Hogwired All about sports On Monday India scored yet another emphatic win against the visiting Kiwis. It’s a back to back win for the Indians after the Kanpur test. Kolkata win has got the Indians a 2-0 lead in the three-match test series against the Kiwis thus enabling India to win the series. This win has also put India in the number one spot replacing arch rivals Pakistan as far as ICC test rankings are concerned. The Indians crushed New Zealand by 178 to win this second test which also happens to be the 250th test played by the team on home turf.
Saurav Ganguly who was ecstatic after the Indian win said that the Indians are a far better side than Pakistanis who were recently worded no 1 in test ranking before the Indians dethroned them from the top spot. Ganguly, commenting on the recent Indian victory, said that at the moment Pakistan cannot be India’s yardstick and the Indian team is a far better side than the Pakistanis in test cricket. Therefore he feels that there should be no comparison between the two sides. The former Indian captain expressed his surprise when he saw Pakistan in the top of the test rankings after their 2-2 series against England. Ganguly said that the recent victory of the Indian is a lot more satisfying for the Indian team and for viewers like him and for people who have played the game for a long time.
This victory in the Eden Gardens happens to be India’s fourth consecutive test victory under Kohli’s leadership. Ganguly desires India to be victorious all over the world and not just on the home turf.
Ganguly, expressing his reservations about the number position in the ICC test ranking, elaborated by saying that he still does not agree with India achieving the number 1 spot in test ranking because India has still not recorded a test series victory in overseas countries like Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand. In the same breath, he also disagreed with Pakistan’s previous number one position. Ganguly said that in his times a side got a number position because they were world leaders and best teams all over the world. He cited the example of Australia who was number 1 in test rankings while he was playing. According to the former Indian Captain Australia was number one because it won all over the world. The Kolkata victory has given Kohli’s his 9th test victory in the 16 tests he has captained so far. Ganguly said that Kohli has set high standards for himself and he is confident that the current Indian test captain will set high standards for the Indian team as a whole.
Ganguly considers the Eden Gardens’ pitch to be a bowler’s paradise.
India will not lose the top spot in test ranking irrespective of how India performs in its last test at Indore. After the Black Caps leave England will arrive in India for a five-match test series which will begin on November 9.
