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‘Kohli Best In Business; Pant, Gill Must Step Up…’ Ganguly Expresses Concern For ENG Tests

Aakash Saini

Virat Kohli with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sourav Ganguly [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x]Virat Kohli with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sourav Ganguly [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x]

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Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his concerns for Team India ahead of their five-match Test tour of England in June this year. The legendary Indian cricketer urged the likes of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill to up their game in a bid to counter the swinging ball in tough English conditions.

It is worth noting that Team India recently suffered a 1-3 drubbing to Australia ‘Down Under’ in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series. Moreover, Rohit Sharma and co. also lost its three-match home Test series against New Zealand 0-3 late last year.

Sourav Ganguly cautions India ahead of ENG tour

Sourav Ganguly has cautioned India’s struggling batters ahead of the five-match Test series in England in June, i.e., soon after the IPL 2025 season. While speaking during the Trailblazers 3.0 by RevSportz, the former Indian captain stated that an attacking player like Rishabh Pant needs to “bite the bullet” and assess the English conditions before swinging his bat.

Ganguly added that while Virat Kohli is still the “best in the business”, his teammates like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill need to step up their game. He said:

“Rishabh Pant has got to bite the bullet and play the swinging ball. You cannot keep swinging all the time and expect to score runs in Tests. It is a mentality, determination and grit. They have the talent—Virat Kohli, the best in the business. I do not see him failing in five Tests in England. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill—they need to step up.”

Sourav Ganguly also urged the importance of racking up 500-plus totals in a bid to win overseas Tests, especially in a country like England. He added:

“It is possible to transform our red-ball fortunes in England. You have to bat well. You look at the times India played their best away from home—it is when they put 400-500 runs on the board.”

The first Test of the five-match series between India and hosts England will be played between June 20 and June 24 at the Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds. The series will also constitute a part of India’s WTC campaign for the 2025-27 cycle.