Sourav Ganguly warns India to play the same team to win knockouts

Hardik Pandya took Finn Allen's wicket in 3rd ODI vs New Zealand (As

India have repeatedly failed to perform at the big stage of late, i.e. in the ICC knockout games. Since winning the Champions Trophy back in 2013, Men in Blue's representation in do-or-die games has just seen a nosedive. 

With the ODI World Cup 2023 being at home for the Rohit Sharma-led force, they are again touted as the red-hot favourites for glory after winning bilateral series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand rather convincingly. But they still have to fill some loopholes, which, if not filled, may backfire on them at the knockout stage.

While speaking to Sports Tak, former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, tipped India as a strong team; however, he also talked about their flaws.  

"India can never be a weak team. A country that has so much talent can never be a weak team. Half of the players don't even get a chance. I would want Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and the selectors to hold on to the same team till the World Cup," Ganguly mentioned about Team India.

"When they reach the World Cup, they should play without any baggage. They should play fearless cricket, it doesn't matter if they win the trophy or not," he added.

The former BCCI President, who recently switched from the Indian board's top chair to become Delhi Capitals' Director of Cricket, talked about the team and a recovering Rishabh Pant.

"It's just one role from another and I am looking forward to it. When I first joined hands with Delhi Capitals in 2019, the team has done pretty well since then. We will feel the void of Rishabh Pant. He is a top Indian cricketer but he is injured, we can't do much about it," Ganguly concluded.

DC have announced that they will be playing IPL 2023 without Pant, but they still haven't named a replacement for their skipper.

Meanwhile, under Hardik Pandya's leadership, India will play New Zealand in the second T20I at Lucknow on Sunday. After losing the first game by 21 runs, the match will be a do-or-die affair for the home side.

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