Sourav Ganguly predicts India’s win despite poor performance on Day 1. Here’s what he said

Suranga Lakmal was the root cause of India's downfall as he took 3 wickets while India were reduced to 17/3 at the end of Day 1

By: Score Keepers |
November 17, 2017 11:37 am

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly gave a big statement on Team India’s performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kolkata. Despite a pathetic start, the former captain believes that India will win the Test match. On November 16, the first Test got delayed due to heavy rains. Once the game began, the Indian appeared to be struggling badly against the Lankan bowling attack. Suranga Lakmal was the root cause of India’s downfall as he took 3 wickets – Shikhar Dhawan (8), KL Rahul (0) and Virat Kohli (0) – and India were reduced to 17/3 by the end of the day.

However, Sourav Ganguly still believes that India could turn the game around. As reported by Times Now, on being asked whether green track was prepared to see India lose, Ganguly said,

Let me tell you one thing, India will win this Test even if they are 17/3. I could not control the rain for last two days. With rain covers and a bit of grass at the Eden, this was bound to happen. You have seen the game, you know how it is when it’s overcast and dark. There’s a lot of rain for two days and the wicket was undercover.

Due to the overcast conditions on Day 1, only 11.5 overs were bowled with the match being continuously interrupted. Virat Kohli got out for a duck for the first time while batting in a Test match at the Eden Gardens. He faced 11 balls but failed to score any runs. Lakmal hunted him down which was his last wicket of the day.

The weather conditions seem to be favourable on Day 2 but the Indian batting lineup continues to struggle. Within an hour and a half of play in the first session, India lost Rahane (4) and R Ashwin (4) and were reduced to 50/4. At the time of filing this report, Cheteshwar Pujara was on the crease along with Wriddhiman Saha.