Talking cricket with Sourav Ganguly is always a masterclass. But on Monday, June 9, 2025, at his Waterloo apartment, the former India captain offered more than just analysis—he delivered a passionate, no-holds-barred call to arms for Indian cricket. While the formal interview will be published shortly on RevSportz, it was the candid, off-script conversation that truly revealed Ganguly’s mindset.
Take Rishabh Pant, for instance. Ganguly has long backed Pant, famously predicting in 2019 that the left-hander would soon become India’s best Test batter. But on this day, he didn’t hold back in his criticism.
“I didn’t like what I saw of him in Australia,” Ganguly said bluntly. “Too many shots. Just swinging at everything. You can’t bat like that when the ball’s doing a bit. He has a solid defence—use it. Show some fight. Look ugly if you have to. But don’t give your wicket away.”
Ganguly’s message was clear: Pant must rediscover his grit and learn to value his wicket in testing conditions.
Whenever I voiced doubts about India’s chances in England, Ganguly was quick to remind me of history.
“Don’t forget 2021 in Australia,” he said. “No Virat, no Rohit in Melbourne—and still we won. Then Brisbane. This is the same kind of opportunity. A chance for these boys to grow into men. Seize it.”
Ganguly’s ability to inspire confidence is rooted in his own legacy—particularly his transformation of Indian cricket after the 2001 series against Australia. And when he speaks, the intensity is unmistakable.
On Jasprit Bumrah, Ganguly emphasized strategy over endurance.
“Bumrah is your strike bowler,” he said. “Don’t over-bowl him. Twelve overs a day, max. Use him to take wickets, not to plug ends. It’s up to Shubman to manage him smartly.”
As for Shubman Gill, who now leads India in red-ball cricket, Ganguly was both encouraging and honest.
“He still has a way to go as a Test batter. But what a chance this is—for a young captain to lead in England and leave his mark. If he succeeds, he becomes a hero. You live for moments like these.”
Ganguly didn’t sugarcoat India’s challenge either.
“Let’s be honest, England are the better team in these conditions. But if India can bat tough and use Bumrah wisely, they absolutely have a shot. I’ll be back to watch at Edgbaston or Lord’s. I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t believe.”
Just as I was preparing to leave, Ganguly offered a final note—rooted in nostalgia but aimed at the present.
“In 1996, Rahul [Dravid] and I weren’t any different. We got our chance and made the most of it. Gill and Sudharsan need to do the same.”
In his words, you could hear the hunger, the fight, and the enduring love for Test cricket. It was a reminder that for all the T20 glitter, the heart of Indian cricket still beats in whites.
