Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has shared a key suggestion with current head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the final Test against England. Ganguly believes India should include spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the fifth Test at The Oval, saying the right bowling attack can help India win the match and level the series.
What Happened in the Fourth Test?
India managed to draw the fourth Test at Old Trafford with a strong batting performance on the final day. Though England leads the series 2-1, Ganguly feels the team has a good chance in the last game.
He said, “If India continues to bat like this and picks the right bowlers, especially Kuldeep Yadav, they can win at The Oval.”
Ganguly on the Team’s Performance
Ganguly praised India’s fighting spirit in the fourth Test and mentioned their narrow loss at Lord’s, where India fell short by just 22 runs while chasing 193.
He said, “This is a young team, and they need time to grow. The way they batted in the fourth innings—scoring over 400 runs—shows their potential. If they had done that at Lord’s, they could have won.”
Ganguly was happy to see several Indian batsmen scoring runs in overseas conditions and said it was a good sign for the future of Indian cricket.
Praise for Rishabh Pant and Others
Ganguly also appreciated Rishabh Pant for his excellent batting throughout the series. Unfortunately, Pant won’t play the final Test due to a foot fracture.
“He’s a brilliant Test player and has performed really well,” Ganguly said.
He also praised Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for their efforts in helping India save the fourth Test by batting for more than 140 overs.
The final and fifth Test match between India and England will start on Thursday at The Oval in London. Ganguly’s advice is clear: choose the right bowlers, play Kuldeep Yadav, and maintain strong batting to level the series.
