Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is of the opinion that Virat Kohli is in a different league of his own and it would be unfair to expect everybody else in the team to score runs like the 27-year-old does every time. According to a report in theIndiaToday website, Ganguly backed the rest of the batsmen in the side to fire in the series-deciding match against New Zealand at Vizag on Saturday.
"Not everybody is in the same league as Virat Kohli... all six or seven players cannot be of the same ability. But I think there are players who have won India matches, it's just that they haven't got going in this series," Ganguly said in an exclusive interview with India Today.
"The likes of Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Manish Pandey and even Ajinkya Rahane. But hopefully they can get going in the last game of the series in Vizag."
Meanwhile, according to a report in The New Indian Express, a fit-again pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the last ODI in Ranchi, bowled with vigour as eight Indian players turned up for the optional practice session on the eve of the series-deciding fifth and final game against New Zealand here tomorrow.
“The main focus at the Dr YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium practice arena was India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was seen taking tennis ball throwdowns, to get used to the bounce of the pitch. After that Dhoni faced the conventional white ball and practised his trademark shots in a lengthy session at the nets,” says the report.
According to a report in The Hindu, Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav said that he is ready to take up the responsibilities and challenges that will be thrown at him. “At this level, we need to learn quickly, trying to be more positive,” remarked the 31-year-old at the pre-match briefing on the eve of the decider against New Zealand to be played here.
Jadhav, who has played 11 one-dayers and taken six wickets, explained that the idea of him bowling more often was because of the combination of his action and the pace. “It was Mahi bhai and the coach’s idea. The captain wants someone to bowl four to five overs to have the right choice. This is a huge opportunity for someone like me.”
