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'It's A Tough...': Sourav Ganguly Makes Bold Prediction About IND vs ENG Test Series

image-lrx2fyscTeam India celebrating a wicket (AP)

Former BCCI President and ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that India will win the ongoing five-match Test series against England at home with a margin of 4-0 or 5-0.

Team India has been unbeatable at home in the red-ball format. The last time a team won a Test series in India was in 2012 when Alastair Cook led his team to a historic triumph on Indian soil. Since then, no team has managed to breach the fortress.

The Ben Stokes-led England team is in India for the five-match series, and like many visiting teams, Stokes and his team would like to enter the record books by winning the series. However, according to Ganguly, it will be extremely tough for the visitors to win the series.

 The 'Prince of Kolkata' is of the opinion that England could have won the ongoing first Test in Hyderabad if they had batted well in the first innings after winning the toss. Ganguly feels that no visiting team can succeed in India by making 230 or 240 runs on Indian soil.

"India will win the series; the question is whether they will win it 4-0 or 5-0. Every Test will be decisive. England could have won this Test match had they batted well. One cannot win against India by making 230 or 240 runs on Indian soil. 

Had they made 350 or 400, they could have beaten India, but they weren't able to do that. It's a tough series for England. Any team other than the Australia of that era could not create any impact here."  

Ganguly also provided insights on the conditions in the West Indies and the USA, two venues for the T20 World Cup. He likened the conditions in the West Indies and the USA to India and said that the IPL will serve as preparation for the World Cup.

"India is a very good side. There will be another opportunity for India as the conditions in the West Indies and America are like India. The IPL will serve as preparation for the World Cup,"  he added.

In the ongoing Hyderabad Test, England won an important toss and chose to bat first. The Three Lions couldn't make full use of the batting conditions as they accumulated 246 runs in their first innings. India, in reply, doubled the score, posting 436 to take a lead of 190 runs. 

In their second innings, England responded well with Ollie Pope scoring a century, and the team avoided an innings defeat. India is three wickets away from bundling England out again. They'll have to come out and bat again and chase whatever target English batters will set.