Pathan’s real challenge will be Test Cricket: Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is impressed by the performance of the Indian pacers –Irfan Pathan and Ashok Dinda in the just-concluded limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. Ganguly wrote,”India completed another comprehensive victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the lone T20 match, riding a very good bowling display.

“The visitors were without two senior pros, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag, and, I think, they were not missed at all in this game. The former Indian captain credited the pacer Irfan and Dinda who used the condition in Sri Lanka to good effect. He wrote in a column for the Hindustan Times,” It was once again Irfan Pathan and Ashok Dinda, who bowled beautifully in conditions where the ball swung throughout the game.”

While expressing delight over Irfan’s return to form, Ganguly said he would like to see Irfan play test cricket. He said, “The young Indian team has shown lot of good signs in these conditions. Irfan has gone from strength to strength in every game of this series. He bowled very well, it’s not only the swing but also the zip is back and we will have to wait and see, if and when his opportunity comes in Test cricket, whether he will be able to last five days both with the old and new ball.”

He also had a special praise for Dinda, who took four wickets in the lone T20 game. “For me, the find of the series is Dinda, who finished with four wickets in the T-20 game. Time has come to draft him into all forms of cricket because he has pace and fitness, which is going to be very important in Tests,” said Ganguly.”Dinda knows how to reverse the old ball which is important in subcontinent conditions. To successfully do that one will have to bowl at 135-140 kmph which he can.”

Ganguly feels the Indian team with Dinda, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav bring a variety to the Indian bowling attack.

Source: CricketCounty