India successfully passed the first hurdle and won the opening match against Sri Lanka by 304 runs at Galle. The team wrapped up the 5-day match in just 4 days and has taken a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
Team India against Sri Lanka. source
It looks that India will win the second Test as well. India has done this in 2015 against Sri Lankans under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. It was a special and historic win as it was India’s first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 1993.
Team India’s Head Coach, Ravi Shastri. Source
Talking about the win and the current team, the new head coach of the team, Ravi Shastri, said:
“This team has been there with each other for two years and they are much more experienced now.”
And then he compared this team to all previous Indian teams:
“There have been a lot of big names who have played for 20 years, they have come to Sri Lanka many times and never won a series. This team is used to doing things a lot of other teams have not done.”
Of course, Shastri’s illogical remark didn’t go well with anyone.
When the media asked the former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly to comment, he completely refused to acknowledge Ravi Shastri’s remark. He, however, wished that the new coach will take the team forward:
“To be honest, I don’t have much to say on this. Wish him all the best. Given him a job to do till the World Cup in 2019 and hopefully, he will get the Cup and does the job. [sic]”
Sourav Ganguly. source
But Ganguly is Ganguly. Reminding that under his captaincy India won series in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, Sourav said:
“You’re forgetting the win in Pakistan for the first time in Pakistan in 15 years. Also the win in England in 2007. Won’t go into comparisons. Wish him all the best. Want the team to do well and hopefully he will do well in the years to come.”
If India wins one of the remaining two matches then it will be India’s eighth consecutive Test series victory under Kohli. Praising the current captain, Sourav Ganguly accepted that he admires Virat Kohli and he has improved a lot as the captain.
“Virat has improved immensely as a captain. He got the ingredients of a good captain. He’s hungry, he’s himself a remarkable player. I like to sit on the sofa and watch him on TV. He got the ability and there’s no doubt about it.”
Yes, Sourav Ganguly has wished Ravi Shastri for his job as Team India’s head coach. But, Dada’s wish is an indirect reminder for the coach that previous Indian cricket teams were no less than the current ones.