Despite their differences, Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli share a common vision – to elevate Indian cricket to unparalleled heights. Ganguly achieved this during his captaincy from 2000 to 2005, and Kohli followed suit from 2015 to 2021. Though their paths have diverged, Ganguly recently stood by Kohli’s side, countering Shoaib Akhtar’s proposition regarding Virat’s cricketing future.
As Virat Kohli gears up for his final 50-over World Cup, former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar suggested that Kohli should retire from ODIs and T20Is to focus solely on Test cricket, thereby extending his career. Akhtar proposed that Kohli could surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries if he dedicated himself exclusively to Test cricket.
“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 on Thursday’s show ‘Backstage with Boria.’
However, Sourav Ganguly retorted with a resounding response, expressing his disagreement with Akhtar’s viewpoint. Ganguly voiced his support for Kohli’s autonomy in making decisions about his cricketing journey, citing Kohli’s consistent performance as the ultimate determining factor. Ganguly’s emphatic statement underscored the importance of Kohli’s choice and remarkable track record.
“Why? Virat Kohli should play whatever cricket he wants to play. Because he performs,” Ganguly said in a mic-drop moment.
Virat Kohli’s Test achievements undeniably position him as a modern cricket great, although his Test performances aren’t as fiery as his ODI feats. With 8676 runs from 11 Tests, 29 centuries, and an average of 49.29, Kohli has significantly impacted the longer format. Furthermore 2018, he was honoured with the ICC Test Player of the Year award.
In the ODI realm, Kohli ranks fifth in the list of overall run-scorers, trailing legends Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Ponting, and Jayasuriya. Given his current form, Kohli is well-poised to surpass Jayasuriya and Ponting, with 532 and 806 runs left, respectively, to bridge the gap. Kohli’s prowess suggests that he could attain these milestones before the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup.
The recent T20I series loss against West Indies stirred criticism toward the Indian team, particularly Hardik Pandya, the T20I captain, for some debatable decisions. However, amidst the disappointment, young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma emerged as bright spots. Sourav Ganguly rallied behind these youngsters and encouraged the team management to offer them more opportunities. He also called for fans to stand by their players, acknowledging the ebb and flow accompanying cricket in India.
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“Pick your best players. He may be a left-hander or a right-hander. India has outstanding left-handers who 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, and Hardik Pandya. It’s a terrific side. India is a country where there is an 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,” the former India captain added.
Ganguly’s message resonates with the broader sentiment that cricket is a game of ups and downs, and the true test of a cricketing nation’s character lies in supporting the team through victories and defeats. As the journey continues toward the World Cup 2023, India’s cricketing landscape remains dynamic, shaped by the players’ evolving dynamics of performance, selection, and indomitable spirit.
