Former captain Sourav Ganguly has advised Australia to either play well or prepare for a lengthy series ahead. This was after the Bumrah-led team hammered the hosts by 295 runs at Perth, moving straight from an appalling loss of 0-3 to New Zealand on home soil. India roared, first handing Australia their first-ever Test defeat at the Optus Stadium inside four days. Ganguly remarked that Indian team’s performance was not in tandem with what reported by the media in both the countries. The veteran said, however, that India will have to keep applying pressure on Australia with four more Tests remaining. “I gave a couple of interviews (before the series) and I said this, ‘what you are asking me?’ They said, “You know, they lost 3-0 against New Zealand, they will be blown away by Australia,” he told the broadcaster during the Indian Premier League mega auction here.
It is quite clear now that even in Australia there were reports to the tune of ‘we will blow them away,’ and we had already blown them away in the first Test! Indian cricket has tremendous, tremendous talent.” “This is for Australia: Play well or otherwise it’s going to be a long series for you,” he said with a smile.
Happiness was the emotion expressed by the former India captain regarding the overall performance of the team.
“Good to see Bumrah… wow. Bumrah, (Virat) Kohli, Yashasvi (Jaiswal)-es, 22-year-old, (playing his) first Test in Australia, (he was) really superb,” he said.
“I liked that young boy from Hyderabad, Nitish Reddy, the seamers bowled well. They never looked out of place on a big occasion, big stage playing for India. That is what Indian cricket is all about,” said Ganguly.
On his part, Ganguly stated that, while India will continuously put pressure on Australia, the visitors will have to undergo hard work in adjusting to the pink ball with which the hosts have been successful.
“This pressure will keep going on for us against Australia over the next four Tests. It’s still a long way to go. It’s important for me because from here, we move to a day-night Test and Australia has a great record at Adelaide there,” he said. “(With regard to that) the Indians will just have to get used to the pink ball for that day-night Test. It’s a long series and I have my fingers crossed for India winning this series,” Ganguly added.
