India and Australia are set to lock horns on Sunday at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai to mark the start of the 5-ODIs series. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the home side to win the series but said a 5-0 whitewash like the Sri Lanka tour is unlikely to happen as Australia is a far stronger side.
“At home, India will be very tough to beat. India will win but 5-0 (like against Sri Lanka) may not be possible as Australia are a strong side,” Ganguly said on Wednesday.
The selectors had rested the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the limited overs series against Sri Lanka and once again, they were kept away from the first 3 ODIs against Australia. Sourav Ganguly believes it’s a good move to test the youngsters to prepare the core side for the 2019 ODI World Cup.
“They (selectors) want to assess the youngsters. It’s a good move looking ahead to the World Cup 2019. We have enough time to prepare. Everyone will get a chance, that’s what you need in a team building,” he added.
Yuvraj is not done yet
The all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been under the hammer of the selectors for quite some time as after the Windies tour, he wasn’t picked for the Sri Lanka series. The reason for his exclusion was attributed to his failing the fitness test.
His omission from the squad for the Australia series has raised the arguments of his international career being finished. But Ganguly feels Yuvraj can make a comeback if he works on his fitness and that it’s not all over for the 2011 ODI World Cup hero.
“Yes, he can make a comeback if he fights. why not, nothing is over till it’s actually over,” the President of CAB concluded.
