England vs India: Visitors can win 1st Test only if Kohli gets support from others: Sourav Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said other batsmen needed to take more responsibility if India were to win the first Test against England in Birmingham. India were reduced to 78 for 5 by the hosts in their chase of a modest target of 194 to go 1-0 up in the series.

Speaking from Birmingham, Ganguly was all praise for captain Virat Kohli for his 149 in the first innings that took India close to England’s first innings total of 287, falling just 13 runs short. But it was only Kohli show as the second highest score for India in the first innings was 26, scored by opener Shikhar Dhawan. Kohli’s innings was not flawless as he got a life when on 21 and 51 but the timing of his innings was so great that it eclipsed every other criticism.

Virat has kept India alive in the game

“Kohli’s innings of 149 has kept India in the hunt in Birmingham. He not only scored a ton but also helped India reduce the deficit to just 13 runs. Virat has kept India alive in the game. Lot of responsibility will again be there on Virat but other batsmen too need to make runs,” Ganguly, who is IndiaTV’s Cricket Expert, said during ‘Aaj Ki Baat’ show.

The second innings also saw an identical situation with Kohli standing tall among the ruins as none of the other top-order batsmen succeeded to deliver and it was again on Kohli and the lower order to do the job for India.

Ganguly, who is one of those few Indian captains who returned from England without losing a Test series (his side drew the Englishmen 1-1 in 2002), also lauded the Indian bowlers on Day 3 of the Birmingham Test for their commendable performance of bowling out the hosts for 180 in their second innings to give the batsmen a golden opportunity to take a lead in the series.

Ishant Sharma took five wickets in the second essay while Ravichandran Ashwin took three to back his four-for in the first innings, claiming the prized wicket of opener Alastair Cook once more. England, however, were reeling at 87 for 7 once in their second innings before a half-century by tail-ender Sam Curran helped them to take a lead of almost 200.

“Indian bowlers also played a major role on day three and took the team to a good position where they can now win the match,” Ganguly said.

“There are seven left-handers in the England team and that is why R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma has caused problems for them. When Ishant bowls over the wicket, he creates problems for left-handers,” he added. He also lauded Ashwin saying it was probably the first time that he saw the off-spinner bowling well in England.

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