Having performed well on the world-stage consistently, the Men in Blue entered the series against England in England last year as the world’s number one ranked Test team; however, they were miserably whitewashed in the four-match series. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company faced another humiliating whitewash in the previous season against Australia.
A number of former cricketers believed that India had a massive opportunity of avenging their defeat as England tour India for the Test series. The result was very much expected in the first Test at Ahmedabad as Dhoni’s men crushed the visitors by nine wickets.
Alastair Cook and company however, bounced back in style to square the series at Mumbai with a 10-wicket victory, destroying the home team’s dream of a whitewash.
Dhoni’s move of attacking England through his spinners backfired as the English spinners picked up 19 wickets in the Mumbai Test.
Ganguly has advised the Indian skipper to ask for flatter tracks in the remaining two matches as the hosts cannot afford to lose another game.
“Dhoni should not seek a turner. If the ball turns, the England spinners will create problems for the Indian batsmen. And if India lose two back to back Tests then there will be lot of changes in Indian cricket,” he said.
India played three frontline spinners in the second Test in the absence of Umesh Yadav, but the former left-handed batsman wants Ashok Dinda to be given an opportunity in the third Test in place of Harbhajan Singh, who looked off-colour at Mumbai.
Ganguly mentioned, “I want to see Dinda in the line-up in place of Harbhajan Singh. Playing three spinners don't work at all, which is showed clearly in Harbhajan's bowling of 20-odd overs. I hope MS will balance the attack (at Eden).”
The third Test begins from December 5, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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