WC 2019: Despite setbacks, India will make it to semis, says Sourav Ganguly

Despite the injury setbacks, former skipper Sourav Ganguly reckons that the Indian team is so strong that it will qualify for the World Cup semifinals.

Virat-led Indian cricket team have lost their star players Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to an injury. In-form opener Dhawan has been ruled out of the ongoing tournament after failing to make enough recovery in a fresh assessment of his thumb fracture. On the other hand, paceman Bhuvneshwar will not play for his national team in next two-three games after pulling a hamstring during the match against Pakistan at the Old Trafford on Sunday. Despite the setbacks, former skipper Sourav Ganguly reckons that the Indian team is so strong that it will qualify for the World Cup semifinals. "It's a blow but they beat Pakistan comprehensively. So they are in good form. I hope Shikhar recovers well and recovers soon," Ganguly, who has returned from his World Cup commentary assignment, said here on Wednesday. "Injuries are part and parcel nobody has control on it. Hope others come and do well. I thought Vijay Shankar did exceptionally well with the ball in Bhuvi's absence. This is a good Indian team and they will make it to the semis and we will see what happens," Ganguly added. In Dhawan's absence, KL Rahul scored a fifty in India's comprehensive 89-run win over Pakistan in their previous outing as India are still unbeaten from four matches. "India have looked the best in the World Cup so far, then England and Australia," Ganguly said while launching a mobile blood donation bus by Project Life Force. India next take on minnows Afghanistan in their fifth rubber at Southampton on June 22.