England vs India 2018: Sourav Ganguly Advises India Ahead of Trent Bridge Test

The former India skipper, Sourav Ganguly urged Indian team to show some grit in the third Test against England in Nottingham. The surface of Trent Bridge is calculated to produce swinging conditions, and thus had a piece of advice for ousted opener Shikhar Dhawan.

Sourav Ganguly on the third Test match

In his column for the Times of India, Sourav Ganguly believes all the five games will produce results if the rain stays away. He says India needs to come back and take avenge of Lords in the third Test.

“The third Test will test India’s resilience. Virat and his boys have had a tough time, especially at Lord’s, countering the swing bowling but they need to remember that in South Africa they came back strongly to win the third Test. They are 2-0 down, but there are still three matches to go, which is a lot of cricket. If rain does not take three days away, all the games will have results.”

England and India will lock horns at Trent Bridge Test, starting August 18th. As of now, England is leading the five-match Test series 2-0. India lost a close game in Edgbaston when Virat Kohli’s maiden century did not receive any support from another end.

In the second match at Lord’s, India lost the game by an innings and 159 runs. India appeared helpless before the swinging conditions with the rain halts adding further miseries.

Sourav Ganguly on James Anderson

So far as the spearhead of England bowling, James Anderson is concerned, England fans would get rejoiced with the stats. James Anderson has taken 60 wickets at Trent Bridge in just nine outings.

“Much has been spoken about the capability of the Indian batters to battle it out in difficult conditions, but at Lord’s, it was the supreme ability of Anderson and company which got the better of them. What hurt the Indian fans, however, was the lack of fight rather than the loss. This team is much better than the way they have played so far,” Ganguly added.

Sourav Ganguly on Virat Kohli

The India skipper, Virat Kohli faced some stiffness in his back at Lord’s. He did not come to bat at his position in the second innings of the second Test.

However, in the pre-match presentation, Virat Kohli said he is completely fit to take part. Sourav Ganguly further warned other players that they should not be over-reliance on Virat Kohli.

“Can the Indians fight back? The worry is they have succumbed to the fact that it will be tough. Yes, it will be tough but not impossible. The mind has to believe that. A lot is being said about Kohli’s influence, but he alone will not win matches. Tendulkar did not. India played sensationally well in that era because the players around him scored as well. Vijay, Pujara, Rahane, Rahul, and Dhawan have to believe; they have done it earlier in difficult situations and only that belief can help them change the mental frame they are in,” Ganguly opined.

Furthermore, Ganguly wants the Indian openers to provide a good start at the top of the order which hasn’t happened. In fact, Ganguly believes that getting an extra batsman like Karun Nair could be one option for the visitors.

“India will need a good start at the top which has not happened yet. Whether a Dhawan instead of Vijay will help them to counter-attack is another question, but whoever is entrusted with the job will need to stand tall and that will provide respite to the middle-order to take the fight back to England. Will India play Karun Nair as the sixth batsman? That could be a good option,” Ganguly penned down.