Sourav Ganguly Sets A Daunting Target For Virat Kohli And Co. Against New Zealand

India have kickstarted their campaign against New Zealand on an emphatic note by winning the first of the five T20Is. Sourav Ganguly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, has set a higher goal for Virat Kohli’s men on foreign soil.

The former India skipper stated that while every fixture and series is important, he would personally like to see India edge past the hosts in the Test series. So far, India have come out in flying colors only twice out of nine Test series in New Zealand. The Asian side tasted victory in 1967/68 and 2008/09. They have drawn the series twice and lost the Test honors on five different tours. 

Sourav Ganguly backs India to achieve rare feat

“Chances are very good, the last time when we toured New Zealand, we won the ODIs 4-1,” Ganguly told ABP news. “I want them to win the Test series… every series is equally important but winning a Test series is something special.”

“This is a very good side and they are good in form . I believe if you want good cricket on the field then you’ve got to sort out the off-field administrative things. We give freedom to Virat Kohli, ask him not to take any undue pressure, we also tell them to keep an eye on the consistency of the players,” he added.

At Eden Park, India chased down a target of 204. The men in blue had to bat against an asking rate of more than 10 an over. And they ended up sealing a 6-wicket win with an over to spare. While Kohli made a composed 45, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer did the chunk of the scoring.

Opening the innings in the company of Rohit Sharma, the wicket-keeper batsman hit a fluent 27-ball 56. But the job wasn’t done when Rahul departed in the 10th over. India needed someone to take stock of the situation and do the finishing act. It was Iyer, who batted at no.4 and saw the team through with a stunning unbeaten 58* off 29 balls. The sides will meet at the same venue on 26 January for the second T20I.