We were expecting too much on Day 5 of WTC Final, 280 runs are a lot when you have only three batters left: Sourav Ganguly

Rahane, Thakur and Ganguly. (Photo source : Gettyimages)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that India should have fought better against Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Additionally, he believed it was silly to expect India to collect 280 runs on the final day when only three batsmen were left. India resumed the final day at 164 for 3 while striving to chase down the massive 400-run plus mark, but quickly lost batting stalwart Virat Kohli (49), followed by Ravindra Jadeja (0) and Ajinkya Rahane (46).

Notably, Pat Cummins-led side thrashed India by 209 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Sunday at The Oval, ending their quest for the coveted ICC title. India had previously lost to New Zealand in the first WTC final in 2021 and this was their second loss in the marquee event. Following the consecutive losses, former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly affirmed that the expectations placed on Rohit Sharma and the team on the final day of the WTC Final were overly high, resulting in an anti-climactic conclusion for India. He additionally pointed out that the pitch wasn’t as effective.

“Anti-climax for sure but we were expecting too much today (Sunday) morning. 280 runs are a lot when you have only three batters left – Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane. The fifth day’s cricket is different in these countries because the wickets become up and down and there is movement. From the top, you feel it is extremely flat. It is green but it does not have the pace. It becomes double-paced, whether it is England or Australia. That is why probably such runs have not been scored for the last 100 years,” Ganguly told on Star Sports.

India should have put up a better fight: Ganguly

When asked about India’s potential to play better, former BCCI President Ganguly responded that India ought to have fought better against Australia in the ICC WTC final. He even asked Rahul Dravid, who is India’s head coach, about this. “I agree with you that they should have put up a better fight. Bhajju (Harbhajan Singh) and I even asked Rahul Dravid about it. There is a slight dilemma while asking as well as you have yourselves played cricket and won and lost matches but sometimes you need to ask,” he responded.