To Win Overseas, We Must Score Big” – Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly’s Key to India’s Success in England

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Sourav Ganguly believes India can win in England but only if they post big totals like 400-500. He highlights key concerns about the batting lineup.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has made it clear—winning overseas is impossible without big first-innings scores. Speaking at the Trailblazer 3.0 event, he said, “If we want to win our first Test series in England since 2007, we have to put up 400-500 runs, just like we did in the past when touring England, Australia, and Pakistan.”

India is set to tour England in June 2025, marking the start of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle (2025-27). But this time, they will face a strong Bazball-style English team led by Ben Stokes, a challenge that demands solid batting performances.

Concerns Over India’s Batting Depth

Ganguly expressed concerns about India’s current batting lineup, pointing out that only Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal average over 40 in overseas Tests. He believes that if India wants to win in England, where swing and seam movement are a constant threat, at least three or four of the top six batters must average close to 50.

He also called out Rishabh Pant, Kl Rahul and Shubman Gill, urging them to step up. Ganguly seemed particularly disappointed with Pant, saying, “You can’t just keep swinging your bat and expect to score runs. You need mental toughness, determination, and grit.” However, he backed Virat Kohli to deliver in the five-match series.

Lessons from the Past

Ganguly recalled India’s success during his captaincy, when the team consistently posted big totals in overseas conditions:

2004 Pakistan Tour: 600 in Multan, 400 in Lahore, 700 in Rawalpindi

Australia Tour: 500 in Adelaide, 500 in Brisbane, 700 in SydneyHe also pointed out that India’s only Test win in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy came when they posted 400 in the second innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a “big daddy hundred.” Ganguly even went on to call Jaiswal India’s best current Test batsman.