Ganguly dismisses Smith's remarks, says captain Kohli will improve with time

At a time when captain Virat Kohli is being bombarded for India’s dismal show in South Africa, the country’s most successful overseas captain, Sourav Ganguly has thrown his weight firmly behind him.

At a time when captain Virat Kohli is being bombarded for India’s dismal show in South Africa, the country’s most successful overseas captain, Sourav Ganguly has thrown his weight firmly behind him.

Denying former South African captain Graeme Smith’s remarks of Kohli not being a long-term captain for India, Ganguly said Kohli is still in his early days.

“With Graeme Smith, I'm not agreeable to that. It is his first overseas Test series as a captain. He is a young boy, not in terms of the number of Test matches he has played home or away, but in terms of the number of matches he has captained overseas. That is just two matches and I think it is a preety harsh statement. He will get better for sure once he goes to England and then to Australia, he will learn.”

“ I honestly feel that it is too early a statement from Smith. Although he needs to do a certain things overseas which he will eventually learn with time.”

Ganguly, who led India in both formats for more than five years is of the opinion that Kohli should be given time to prove himself as an overseas Test captain.

"There is lot of talk going around about Virat Kohli's leadership qualities. It is important to be patient as it is his first big overseas tour."

World No. 1 India went to South Africa on the back of nine consecutive series wins but their performance rarely gave an account of their abilities after they crumbled to a 72-run loss in the first Test at Cape Town followed by an even bigger defeat by 135-runs at Centurion. Moreover, the team management’s decision not to include vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in both the Test matches even when Rohit Sharma was drawing a blank in front of the South African pace battery, raised a lot of question marks on Kohli’s captaincy and the team management’s thinking.

Ganguly, though is of the belief that Virat Kohli will imporeve sooner rather than later. 

“If you see Virat as a cricketer, the player that he has evolved is because he has learned. He is passionate. I actually get surprised when I see him on field and I think how will he hold up that energy and go on and play as a batsman. But then he turns around and scores runs with the bat.” Ganguly signed off.

India will take on South Africa in third and final Test at Johannesburg from January 24^th and it will be another test of Kohli’s leadership qualities.