The rift between Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI President, and Virat Kohli, India’s talisman batsman and former captain, is there for everyone to see and understand that the duo hadn’t gotten along well. Eventually, Kohli resigned as captain in T20Is and Tests, while he was removed as the ODI skipper, all happening within a span of a few months.
However, this has made fans recall an eleven a few years ago chosen by Sourav Ganguly, that did not include Virat Kohli.
A video uploaded on the YouTube channel of the Lord’s Cricket Ground, from 2016 has surfaced on social media again in which Ganguly, who was then a commentator, is asked to chose his all-time playing eleven. In which he ignored Virat Kohli, who was India’s Test captain then and by late 2016 had already established his legacy as one of the best to have ever picked up a bat. Ganguly, though, didn’t think Kohli was amongst the best eleven.
For openers, Ganguly went with two left-handers- Australia’s Matthew Hayden and England’s Alastair Cook. There was no doubt in Ganguly’s mind about the next two positions: Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
For the all-rounder’s role, Dada picked South African legend Jacques Kallis, and the wicket-keeper batsman’s position in Ganguly’s team went to Sri Lanka’s remarkable stumper and batter, Kumar Sangakkara.
For a surprise, Ganguly had Ricky Ponting at number 7, although he did mention that he isn’t choosing by the batting order. Ponting was also elected as the captain of this particular side; Ganguly termed the Australian as “probably the best tactical person in this world.”
For his lead pacer, the former India captain opted for rival Glenn McGrath, “the best”, he said, regarding accuracy among bowlers. He then roped in South Africa’s tearaway fast bowler Dale Steyn for his “wicket-taking ability”.
Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, the two leading Test wicket-takers, completed Ganguly’s all-time XI.
Sourav Ganguly’s all-time XI:
Matthew Hayden, Alastair Cook, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting (C), Glenn McGrath, Dale Steyn, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Here’s the video:
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