CHENNAI: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday backed Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar to do well in the upcoming World Cup, announcing his bowling would come in useful in the English stipulations.
World Cup Schedule
There has been debate over Shankar being picked in the England-bound India team ahead of Ambati Rayudu, with the selectors announcing they went for the "three-dimensional skills" introduced by means of the Tamil Nadu participant.
"Vijay Shankar will do well. He is a good young cricketer. His bowling will come handy. Let's not be too negative about him. He has got a place because he has played in Australia and New Zealand and done well," Ganguly, who is advisor to IPL team Delhi Capitals mentioned.
The former skipper also mentioned that proficient Rishabh Pant, who has been disregarded for this version, must not really feel depressed about his non-selection.
"Yes, Pant also could have been part of this side but he need not worry. He has many more years. He is just 20, he will play a few World Cups."
Asked if India may pass the entire approach with three front-line pacemen, Ganguly mentioned that is the approach the team wants to play with an all-rounder at number 7.
"Pandya is the first choice. If he gets injured, then (Ravindra) Jadeja. That allows them to play three fast bowlers. If anybody gets injured it is just a 10-hour flight," he added.
On the 50-overs World Cup, Ganguly mentioned this version could be very aggressive due the structure, where all groups play each and every other in the league stage.
"This format was last tried in 1992 when everyone played everyone. In the past we felt there were one or two weak ones. This time it is not so. West Indies is strong, Australia is back to where they were, New Zealand is strong, India is strong. And Pakistan played very well in England," he added.
To a query if Kuldeep Yadav's loss of shape all through the continuing IPL was a reason for concern with the World Cup not far away, Ganguly mentioned the Eden Gardens strip didn't have a lot in it for the spinners and backed the Chinaman bowler to return again well.
"On Edens Gardens pitch, nobody bowls well. You only see scores of 220 and 230. Just see the number of runs that have been scored. Kuldeep is a huge talent, sometimes we judge bowlers on the basis of T20 cricket which is not the best thing to do, especially with spinners. He will come back well," the previous India captain added.
The former Bengal cricketer, who has taken over as the advisor at DC this season, credited the players for the way in which they've performed and sealing a place in the playoffs. "I think a lot of credit should go the people who play in the XI. Because we guide them and try to help, try to keep them in a good frame of mind, keep the good confidence going. Even when I was the captain, it is the XI that matters. The real credit should go to the players."
About the standout performers for the Delhi team, which has reached the playoffs after an opening of 7 years, Ganguly mentioned everybody had executed well and praised Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rishabh Pant and the younger captain Shreyas Iyer.
"I think everyone has performed well, that's why you get there. Shikhar has been remarkable. Rishabh Pant on every occasion he has got away from Delhi on good pitches, onerous pitches where there may be lift, he has been remarkable with the bat.
"Shreyas Iyer has been remarkable as a tender captain and brought the accountability and brought the team forward. He has been sensible with the bat beneath power. Axar Patel, Rabada has been excellent.
"Ishant Sharma has been a revelation. A lot of people felt he was a Test match bowler but to come up and do well in T20s at this stage of the career shows you can turn it on any time you want. There is nobody called test bowler, one day bowler or T20 bowler. It just how you adapt and make a difference to your own game."
He mentioned the team would take it recreation by means of recreation going forward in the season.
"You never know what happens, there are just 20 overs. If you make mistakes, in two-three overs the game is gone. It is not Test cricket or 50 overs where you can come back. We will take every game and see where we finish," Ganguly added.
World Cup Schedule
There has been debate over Shankar being picked in the England-bound India team ahead of Ambati Rayudu, with the selectors announcing they went for the "three-dimensional skills" introduced by means of the Tamil Nadu participant.
"Vijay Shankar will do well. He is a good young cricketer. His bowling will come handy. Let's not be too negative about him. He has got a place because he has played in Australia and New Zealand and done well," Ganguly, who is advisor to IPL team Delhi Capitals mentioned.
The former skipper also mentioned that proficient Rishabh Pant, who has been disregarded for this version, must not really feel depressed about his non-selection.
"Yes, Pant also could have been part of this side but he need not worry. He has many more years. He is just 20, he will play a few World Cups."
Asked if India may pass the entire approach with three front-line pacemen, Ganguly mentioned that is the approach the team wants to play with an all-rounder at number 7.
"Pandya is the first choice. If he gets injured, then (Ravindra) Jadeja. That allows them to play three fast bowlers. If anybody gets injured it is just a 10-hour flight," he added.
On the 50-overs World Cup, Ganguly mentioned this version could be very aggressive due the structure, where all groups play each and every other in the league stage.
"This format was last tried in 1992 when everyone played everyone. In the past we felt there were one or two weak ones. This time it is not so. West Indies is strong, Australia is back to where they were, New Zealand is strong, India is strong. And Pakistan played very well in England," he added.
To a query if Kuldeep Yadav's loss of shape all through the continuing IPL was a reason for concern with the World Cup not far away, Ganguly mentioned the Eden Gardens strip didn't have a lot in it for the spinners and backed the Chinaman bowler to return again well.
"On Edens Gardens pitch, nobody bowls well. You only see scores of 220 and 230. Just see the number of runs that have been scored. Kuldeep is a huge talent, sometimes we judge bowlers on the basis of T20 cricket which is not the best thing to do, especially with spinners. He will come back well," the previous India captain added.
The former Bengal cricketer, who has taken over as the advisor at DC this season, credited the players for the way in which they've performed and sealing a place in the playoffs. "I think a lot of credit should go the people who play in the XI. Because we guide them and try to help, try to keep them in a good frame of mind, keep the good confidence going. Even when I was the captain, it is the XI that matters. The real credit should go to the players."
About the standout performers for the Delhi team, which has reached the playoffs after an opening of 7 years, Ganguly mentioned everybody had executed well and praised Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rishabh Pant and the younger captain Shreyas Iyer.
"I think everyone has performed well, that's why you get there. Shikhar has been remarkable. Rishabh Pant on every occasion he has got away from Delhi on good pitches, onerous pitches where there may be lift, he has been remarkable with the bat.
"Shreyas Iyer has been remarkable as a tender captain and brought the accountability and brought the team forward. He has been sensible with the bat beneath power. Axar Patel, Rabada has been excellent.
"Ishant Sharma has been a revelation. A lot of people felt he was a Test match bowler but to come up and do well in T20s at this stage of the career shows you can turn it on any time you want. There is nobody called test bowler, one day bowler or T20 bowler. It just how you adapt and make a difference to your own game."
He mentioned the team would take it recreation by means of recreation going forward in the season.
"You never know what happens, there are just 20 overs. If you make mistakes, in two-three overs the game is gone. It is not Test cricket or 50 overs where you can come back. We will take every game and see where we finish," Ganguly added.
Shankar's bowling will be handy in English conditions: Ganguly
![Shankar's bowling will be handy in English conditions: Ganguly]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
April 30, 2019
Rating:
