India hadn’t won an ODI series of particular importance since their wins against Australia and West Indies in the 2013-14 home season. They had lost to South Africa and New Zealand away, and also did not have an impressive outing in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh either.
But the recently-concluded five-ODI series in England has been an easy affair for them, given the hosts’ frailties in the ODI format, as India posted a comprehensive 3-1 win.
‘Every win is important and winning is good for a young team,’ said Ganguly, when asked if this series win has been beneficial from the World Cup’s preparation point of view.
‘You can only prepare a team by winning matches. And it is a good win if you consider that they did not win any ODIs in either South Africa or New Zealand. India are placed quite well for the World Cup. They have played some good cricket here in England in the ODIs. And as long as they keep playing good cricket and keep winning, they will find the right combination for the World Cup,’ he added. England only managed to cross the 250-run mark for the first time in the fifth and final ODI at Leeds on Friday, which was a dead-rubber, and Ganguly felt Indian bowlers had been showing good signs.
‘I thought there were good signs about India’s bowling. Mohammad Shami bowled really well in this series. Bowling in the death-overs is something they will have to get better at and it is tough because almost every bowler gets hit in the death-overs nowadays. But let us not be too judgmental. India were outstanding with the ball in this series,’ said Ganguly, who led India to the final of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. However, India faced some problems with their batting line-up. While Shikhar Dhawan got back to form only in the fourth ODI at Birmingham, Virat Kohli’s poor tour was converted into a wretched one.
‘Virat Kohli is just going through a tough phase,’ opined Ganguly. ‘And therefore it becomes vital for someone like Suresh Raina to score runs in the middle order. He has done it consistently and it must have helped him to get some confidence back, because the Australian tour will be tough. It is not easy to score runs there, especially against the quick-bowlers. Not to mention he has lifted the team with his fielding energy, which is very important as well.’
But the recently-concluded five-ODI series in England has been an easy affair for them, given the hosts’ frailties in the ODI format, as India posted a comprehensive 3-1 win.
‘Every win is important and winning is good for a young team,’ said Ganguly, when asked if this series win has been beneficial from the World Cup’s preparation point of view.
‘You can only prepare a team by winning matches. And it is a good win if you consider that they did not win any ODIs in either South Africa or New Zealand. India are placed quite well for the World Cup. They have played some good cricket here in England in the ODIs. And as long as they keep playing good cricket and keep winning, they will find the right combination for the World Cup,’ he added. England only managed to cross the 250-run mark for the first time in the fifth and final ODI at Leeds on Friday, which was a dead-rubber, and Ganguly felt Indian bowlers had been showing good signs.
‘I thought there were good signs about India’s bowling. Mohammad Shami bowled really well in this series. Bowling in the death-overs is something they will have to get better at and it is tough because almost every bowler gets hit in the death-overs nowadays. But let us not be too judgmental. India were outstanding with the ball in this series,’ said Ganguly, who led India to the final of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. However, India faced some problems with their batting line-up. While Shikhar Dhawan got back to form only in the fourth ODI at Birmingham, Virat Kohli’s poor tour was converted into a wretched one.
‘Virat Kohli is just going through a tough phase,’ opined Ganguly. ‘And therefore it becomes vital for someone like Suresh Raina to score runs in the middle order. He has done it consistently and it must have helped him to get some confidence back, because the Australian tour will be tough. It is not easy to score runs there, especially against the quick-bowlers. Not to mention he has lifted the team with his fielding energy, which is very important as well.’