Give me three months, three Ranji Trophy games, I will still score runs for India – Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has always been a confident man. Ganguly, who is currently serving as the BCCI president and is 48, believes he can still score runs for the Indian team if he trains for three months and plays three Ranji Trophy matches. The former Indian skipper feels he can hit the ground running if he still wants to.

Ganguly stated that he could have played two more ODI series and still score runs when he chose to retire after playing his final Test match at Nagpur against Australia.

The former Indian captain had made a comeback to the national team after he was dropped from the side due to his fallout with coach Greg Chappell. Ganguly was able to make a decent comeback after proving his mettle.

In fact, Ganguly had played his last match 12 years ago in 2008 whereas his swansong first-class match came back in 2011.

“If I was given two more series in ODIs, I would’ve scored more runs. If I hadn’t retired in Nagpur, I would’ve scored runs in the next two Test series too. In fact, even now that I have six months to train, let me play three Ranji games, I’ll score runs for India in Test cricket. I don’t even need six months, give me three, I will score runs,” said Ganguly while talking to Bengali newspaper Sangbad Pratidin.

Meanwhile, Ganguly added that he was dropped from the ODI side despite being the highest run-getter in the calendar year. It was a big surprise for Ganguly as the stage was taken away from him.

Ganguly had an illustrious career as he scored 7212 runs in 113 Test matches at an average of 42.17 with the help of 16 centuries. The southpaw was a better ODI batsman as he scored  11363 runs in 311 ODI matches at an average of 41.02 with 22 centuries.

Furthermore, Ganguly led the team from the front and produced the results in the foreign conditions. Ganguly led India in 49 Test matches, in which the team won 21 and lost 13 whereas 15 ended in a draw. On the other hand, Ganguly led in 146 ODI matches in which the team won 76 and lost 65 whereas there was no result in five games.

The left-hander, who was known for his flamboyant batting, savoured success while opening the batting with Sachin Tendulkar in the 50-overs version. Ganguly is now doing a fine job as an administrator and he is the head of the Indian board.