Shoaib Akhtar (L), Virat Kohli (M), Sourav Ganguly (R)
In the world of Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli, two greats with distinct timelines, shared a common goal – lifting Indian cricket to new heights. Ganguly, at the helm from 2000 to 2005, orchestrated the rise; likewise, Kohli, leading from 2015 to 2021, scripted an analogous narrative.
Despite their differences, Ganguly stood up for Kohli when Shoaib Akhtar made a smart yet debatable point. Talking to RevSportz, Akhtar suggested that Kohli, after the upcoming 50-over World Cup, focus solely on Test matches, leaving behind the demands of ODIs and T20Is. The aim: to bolster his Test career and break Sachin Tendulkar’s century record.
“I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup, and break this record,” Akhtar said.
He Should Play What He Likes
Ganguly quickly responded with a strong answer. The former captain challenged Akhtar’s advice, stating that Kohli should have the freedom to choose his cricketing path based on his performance.
At a Denver event where Ganguly was introduced as the ‘Brand Face,’ he confidently said, “Why? Virat Kohli should play whatever cricket he wants to play. Because he performs.”
The Difference: Test vs. ODI
Kohli’s achievements in Test cricket put him in the league of modern cricket’s best. But his success in ODIs is somewhat overshadowed by his Test records.
At the moment, he has scored 8676 runs from 11 Tests, including 29 centuries, with an average of 49.29 – a clear proof of his skills.
In the ODI arena, Kohli stands fifth among the top run-scorers, competing with legends like Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Ponting, and Jayasuriya.
The race is on, with a gap of only 532 and 806 runs between Kohli and the legends. Given his current form, it’s likely that he will reach these milestones before the World Cup 2023 concludes.
Ganguly’s Message
“Pick your best players. He may be a left-hander or a right hander. India have outstanding left-handers… they will find a place in the side. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. Then there is Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya… it’s a terrific side. India is a country where there is evaluation after every game. They are a good team if they win and become bad after a loss. You have to live with that. It’s part and parcel of the sport,” added the former India captain.
Nurturing Young Talent
Ganguly’s advice to the team is simple and valuable. He urges the team management to support and give opportunities to young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan.
In a country where opinions change after every match, Ganguly asks for unwavering support, acknowledging that wins and losses are part of the game.
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