Kolkata: Ravichandran Ashwin and Sourav Ganguly expressed contrasting views regarding India's requirements for a successful summer in England. During the Champions Trophy final on Sunday, both cricketing icons, despite their differing perspectives, acknowledged that India holds a slight advantage.

Ganguly emphasized that India's strong batting lineup and the enigmatic skills of Varun Chakravarthy position them as favorites in Dubai, although he cautioned that New Zealand represents the "toughest" opponent in the final. Ashwin, on the other hand, conveyed a sense of apprehension, noting that New Zealand performed admirably in their semi-final match against South Africa and are adept at maximizing their resources without lamenting the conditions.

Regarding England, the former Indian captain highlighted the importance of batting, while Ashwin, reflecting on the challenges ahead, indicated that the success of the team would largely depend on the fast bowlers. "My concern lies with the bowlers," Ashwin remarked during a virtual session from Chennai at the Trailblazers 3.0 sports conclave. He questioned the availability of Jasprit Bumrah and the emergence of a successor to Mohammed Shami, asserting that victories in Test matches are not solely determined by the batting lineup, which he believes is currently in good shape.

In a subsequent discussion, Ganguly drew on historical context to underscore his point about future success. He stated, "To win Tests, you need to put 400 or 500 runs on the board," reflecting on the strategy that enabled the team he led for six years to achieve victories overseas.

Ganguly referenced India's victories in Adelaide (2003), Headingley (2002), as well as Multan and Rawalpindi (both in 2004) to emphasize his point. He stated, "India must perform well with the bat in England. The concern is that most of India's leading batsmen have averages in the 40s; they need to be in the 50s."

He expressed surprise at Virat's performance in red ball cricket, suggesting that he needs to adopt a more strategic approach, as India requires his contributions. Ganguly also noted that Shubman Gill must elevate his batting, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant should not be permitted to play recklessly. He identified Jaiswal as India's premier Test batsman.

Ganguly remarked on India's struggles in red ball cricket, asserting that Rohit Sharma must take accountability for improving the situation. "He is an excellent captain but must discover a way to initiate progress. While we can field two strong teams in white ball cricket and still excel, the same cannot be said for red ball cricket," he added.

Ashwin dismissed the idea that India would gain an advantage by playing their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, pointing out that South Africa played all their matches at the same venue during the 2009 Champions Trophy.

Ganguly shifted the discussion, arguing that India's batsmen missed opportunities on the flat pitches in Pakistan. "I believe Virat and the others would feel disappointed that they could not bat in Pakistan, where teams have scored 360 runs (New Zealand made 362/6 in the semi-final) and frequently exceeded 300. Batting in Dubai was significantly more challenging."

Read Also: Shubman Gill Minimizes Dubai Pitch Significance Before NZ Final, Offers Insight: 'A 300 Score Has Yet to Be Observed...'

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