As the anticipation builds for the upcoming ODI World Cup, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has shared crucial advice for India’s bid to secure victory. Ganguly’s words of wisdom revolve around maintaining a consistent starting lineup and avoiding unnecessary alterations until the last moments.
With Rohit Sharma at the helm, the Indian cricket team stands to benefit from home conditions in the tournament. Nevertheless, Ganguly recognizes the critical nature of this opportunity, especially given India’s failure to clinch an ICC trophy in the past decade.
During an interview with Revsportz, Sourav Ganguly reflected on the differences between the triumphant 2003 side and the current team. He underscored the significance of having a settled combination, citing the camaraderie and quality of players that propelled their success.
Ganguly emphasized that stability was the cornerstone of their achievements, and he implored the current team management to prioritize continuity rather than frequent changes. He drew parallels with Australia’s approach between 1999 and 2003, during which they maintained a consistent lineup and reaped substantial rewards.
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“We had a settled combination. That’s the most important thing. We were a very good team by then and had started winning. We were on song. We had some fantastic players. That’s why I keep saying don’t chop and change ahead of a major tournament.”
He continued by highlighting the need for a core group of players to spend a year together, experiencing victories and losses as a unit. Ganguly reminisced about their victorious streak leading up to the 2003 World Cup and stressed the importance of knowing the team’s combination well in advance.
In the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, led by Rohit Sharma, India is set to face off against Pakistan, captained by Babar Azam. The pivotal clash is scheduled for Saturday (September 2nd) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.