Sourav Ganguly wants India to win at least 50% of their knockout matches

Sourav Ganguly , Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid (Photo Source: Twitter)

India have been having a disastrous run in the ICC tournaments since 2014 as they’ve failed to clinch the title despite qualifying for the knockout stages time and again. Their performances have taken a further hit under the head coach Rahul Dravid as they’ve lost bilateral ODI series against South Africa, Australia and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the Rohit Sharma-led side were knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2022 following a ten-wicket hammering against England in the semi-final.

India also lost the World Test Championship final 2023 against Australia in June. With the ODI World Cup 2023 just a few days away, former India captain Sourav Ganguly also recently commented on India’s knockout woes and said that the team should win at least 50 per cent of the knockout matches.

“At least, they are making the finals. With Dravid as coach and players such as Rohit, Kohli, even they know that when they get to these positions (knockouts) they should win. Not all the time, but at least 50 percent of the time,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by HindustanTimes.

India haven’t won an ICC trophy since their Champions Trophy triumph in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Since then, the Men in Blue have reached the knockouts of every ICC tournament, barring the 2021 T20 World Cup, but a title victory has eluded them.

Meanwhile, Ganguly commented on Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence from India’s Asia Cup squad and said that he will always have wrist spinners in his team.

I would pick Chahal: Sourav Ganguly

“I would pick Chahal. I would always pick wrist-spinners,” he said.

However, despite his snub, captain Rohit Sharma has said that the doors will remain open for his selection for the ODI World Cup 2023. Notably, all ten participating teams will have to submit their final squads by September 27. Hence, India have some time to make changes to their preliminary squad which they need to submit by September 05.

Chaha’s exclusion hasn’t gone down well with many as fans and experts have called out BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for their baffling decision.