Sourav Ganguly doesn’t agree with India’s number one position in Tests
Former captain says Kohli's real trial will begin once his team goes overseas
Ganguly says India haven't beaten any big teams outside home. PHOTO: AFP
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes India’s rise back to the number position in Tests is still questionable as they haven’t beaten big teams outside home.
"I still don't agree with the number one position because I don't think India have won in Australia, England, South Africa or New Zealand,” Ganguly told India Today. “I didn't agree to Pakistan's number one position. In my era, Australia were the real number one Test side because they won everywhere.”
India, on Monday, became the number one Test side for the third time this year in the International Cricket Council’s rankings after beating visiting New Zealand by 178 runs in the second of the three-match series.
Virat Kohli registered his fourth consecutive Test series victory and already has become the fourth most successful captain for India with nine wins in 16 outings but Ganguly thinks the 27-year-old's real trial hasn’t begun.
“It's quite a lot of wins for Kohli already,” said Ganguly. “He's got 11 more Tests to play in India, he will be very quickly close to a lot of people in the next one year. But I think his real test will begin when his side goes overseas.”
India better than Pakistan in Tests
Ganguly also commented on Pakistan’s rise to the number one in Test rankings and said it was a surprise and India are a better five-day side than their arch-rivals.
"I don't think Pakistan are India's yardstick at the moment,” said Ganguly. “India are a far better side than Pakistan in Test cricket. So I don't think it could be a comparison. I was surprised to see Pakistan becoming number one after their 2-2 series against England.”
He continued: "So I really didn't consider that to be number one but I think this win is lot more satisfying for India and lot more satisfying for viewers like us and for people who played cricket for such a long time.”
"I still don't agree with the number one position because I don't think India have won in Australia, England, South Africa or New Zealand,” Ganguly told India Today. “I didn't agree to Pakistan's number one position. In my era, Australia were the real number one Test side because they won everywhere.”
India crush New Zealand to reclaim top ranking
India, on Monday, became the number one Test side for the third time this year in the International Cricket Council’s rankings after beating visiting New Zealand by 178 runs in the second of the three-match series.
Virat Kohli registered his fourth consecutive Test series victory and already has become the fourth most successful captain for India with nine wins in 16 outings but Ganguly thinks the 27-year-old's real trial hasn’t begun.
Kohli shrugs off rankings pressure for New Zealand Test
“It's quite a lot of wins for Kohli already,” said Ganguly. “He's got 11 more Tests to play in India, he will be very quickly close to a lot of people in the next one year. But I think his real test will begin when his side goes overseas.”
India better than Pakistan in Tests
Ganguly also commented on Pakistan’s rise to the number one in Test rankings and said it was a surprise and India are a better five-day side than their arch-rivals.
Getting to number one was always a short-term incentive, says Kohli
"I don't think Pakistan are India's yardstick at the moment,” said Ganguly. “India are a far better side than Pakistan in Test cricket. So I don't think it could be a comparison. I was surprised to see Pakistan becoming number one after their 2-2 series against England.”
He continued: "So I really didn't consider that to be number one but I think this win is lot more satisfying for India and lot more satisfying for viewers like us and for people who played cricket for such a long time.”