Sourav Ganguly Criticizes Indian Batters Following 1-3 Loss in Test Series Against Australia

Former Indian men’s cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly has sharply criticized the Indian batsmen’s underperformance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India suffered a 1-3 loss to Australia.

Despite a strong start in the series, the Indian team struggled to maintain consistency, with their batting being a key area of concern.

Ganguly, who has experienced numerous tours to Australia as a player, emphasized the need for a stronger batting effort if India is to win Test matches consistently.

India’s Struggles in the Series

India had a promising beginning in the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with a dominant 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth, under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah.

However, the Australian team made a remarkable comeback, winning the second, fourth, and fifth Tests at Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground. In one of the most crushing defeats, India was defeated by 10 wickets in the pink-ball Test, which ended within three days.

Australia then triumphed by 184 runs in the fourth Test and by 6 wickets in the final match.

Throughout the series, India struggled with their batting. On only three occasions did the Indian team score more than 200 runs in an innings, which played a major role in their first Test series loss to Australia in 10 years.

Ganguly attributed this batting failure as a critical factor in India’s defeat and stressed the importance of improving batting performance to win Test matches consistently.

Ganguly’s Critique of the Batting Unit

Reflecting on the series, Ganguly was blunt in his assessment of the Indian team’s batting. “We did not bat well; we have to bat well in Test cricket. If you do not bat well, you will not win Test matches. If you score 170, 180, you cannot win Test matches. You have to score 350-400,” Ganguly stated in an interview with India Today. He further added that no single player could be blamed for the team’s poor performance, saying, “Everyone has to score runs.”

In particular, Ganguly singled out the lack of significant contributions from several top-order batsmen, including Virat Kohli.

Kohli, who has been one of India’s most consistent Test batsmen, only managed to score 190 runs in nine innings during the series.

His struggles were highlighted by a tendency to get out after attempting shots on balls outside the off-stump, resulting in eight dismissals in eight attempts.

Ganguly, though surprised by Kohli’s recent form, expressed confidence that the batsman would bounce back. “I don’t understand. He is such a great player. But I am sure he will overcome this problem,” Ganguly remarked.

The Kohli Dilemma

Kohli’s recent poor performances in Test cricket have raised questions about his place in the Indian team, especially as India gears up for its next red-ball series in June.

Ganguly’s comments, while expressing concern, also conveyed optimism for Kohli’s eventual return to form. “He is such a great player,” Ganguly said, reinforcing the belief that Kohli will soon overcome his slump.

Kohli’s ongoing struggles are significant, as his performances are often seen as a barometer for India’s batting success.

With the next series around the corner, the Indian team will have to make key decisions about their batting lineup, and Kohli’s future in the Test side remains under close scrutiny.

Rohit Sharma’s Withdrawal and Team Focus

The series also saw Rohit Sharma’s withdrawal from the Sydney Test, a decision Ganguly fully respected, calling it a “personal decision.”

Ganguly also spoke about the coaching staff, particularly Rahul Dravid, but shifted the focus to the team’s performance, emphasizing that the players themselves were ultimately responsible for delivering results.

“We have to perform. What else can I say?” Ganguly remarked when asked about Dravid’s role.

Despite the collective disappointment of the team’s batting failure, Ganguly made it clear that improvement in this area is essential for India to regain their momentum in future Test matches.

The team’s batting struggles were a recurring issue throughout the series, and the ability to score consistently above 350-400 runs per innings is now seen as a critical area for development.

India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy highlighted several weaknesses in their batting lineup.

Ganguly’s assessment underscored the need for a collective effort from the batsmen to raise their performances and ensure consistent results in future Test series.