Bhajji, Ojha must for Tests: Ganguly

Image
Press Trust of India Kolkata
Last Updated : Feb 20 2014 | 8:03 PM IST
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today took a swipe at the selectors' decision to omit leftarm spinner Pragyan Ojha, especially after a 10-wicket haul in his last Test.
Pointing out that India's weak spin department contributed to the 0-1 series loss in New Zealand, Ganguly said Ojha and veteran offspinner Harbhajan Singh were a must for the Test side.
"I'm highly surprised at Ojha's exclusion. He has the ability to take five wickets," Ganguly said today.
Ojha got a 10-wicket haul vs the West Indies in Sachin Tendulkar farewell Test, but only to be dropped for the touring Kiwi squad.
"If you see his career, he got five wickets in Mumbai in the first day, in the same conditions where Ashwin got three. He has got the variety to take wickets," Ganguly said.
"I don't think pacers are a reason for India's defeat. But it's our spin department where we're lacking. All big teams have great spinners, be it Muttiah Muralitharan or Graeme Swann.
"Dhoni has to think about his spin department. Jadeja has no variation. We also need to bring back Harbhajan Singh. He has good record overseas. Both of them (Harbhajan and Ojha) are a must especially in Test cricket," he added.
A day after calling Dhoni's Test captaincy 'obnoxious', Ganguly said Dhoni has to be a little more brave in taking decisions.
"He has to be bold in taking decisions. He has to take risks to win. Sometimes, his decisions are negative like his decision to field after winning the toss," Ganguly told a regional news channel today.
Terming Virat Kohli as the future India captain, Ganguly further said that Dhoni should remain the captain at least till England and Australia series later this year.
"We need an experienced captain. Keeping his record in one-day cricket, he deserves to lead India in two more series in Australia and England.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 20 2014 | 8:03 PM IST

Next Story