Sourav Ganguly reacts on Kohli’s ‘three-match WTC Final’ statement

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly is mighty impressed by the team’s performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the two years preceding the marquee clash. India were beaten by New Zealand by eight wickets in the final and the result didn’t go well with critics and experts, who felt the team should have won or drawn the Test.

But Ganguly felt otherwise and heaped praise on the Indian team for doing consistently well in the past two years. During the two years WTC cycle, India beat West Indies and Australia away and were dominant at home beating side likes South Africa, England and Bangladesh.

Undoubtedly, India’s historic victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the year 2020-21 was what Ganguly felt was the highlight of the team’s WTC cycle.

“I think their [series] win against Australia was the highlight for me. Australia is always a strong team, and beating them in at home was a huge [achievement] by India. With key players missing out, it was huge that their replacements delivered. India has played consistently well and that is why they are in the finals,” Ganguly told The Week Magazine in an interview.

It is too early to say; let this season finish: Sourav Ganguly

Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri and Yuvraj Singh have already spoken about how a one-off Test cannot truly justify the WTC final winner. Ganguly too was asked to comment on the matter, to which the 48-year-old replied it is “too early” to comment on the topic and felt the ICC has to take a call on this considering the other aspects too.

“It is too early to say. Let this season finish. The ICC will look at a lot of things. At this stage, I would rather wait before saying anything,” he said.

The 48-year-old concluded by saying that the WTC final is a very good concept and a good advertisement for Test cricket, which is surely the most challenging format when compared to the other two.

“It is a very good concept for sure. I think Test cricket is the biggest and strongest form of cricket and it should have a final. As far as the one-off Test as a final is concerned, it is the first [edition]. Things will be looked into for the future. The ICC will get feedback from all stakeholders.”