スーラフ・ガングリー監督、ヴィラット・コーリを「最高の白球選手」に指名、チャンピオンズトロフィー2025では「違うロヒト・シャルマ」を期待

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised Virat Kohli as the country’s “greatest white-ball player,” even surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, and described him as a “once-in-a-lifetime cricketer.”

Despite not having the best relationship when Ganguly was head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2022, a period that saw Kohli’s tenure as captain end on a sour note—Ganguly defended Kohli when asked about his future with the Indian team. This was especially relevant in light of Kohli’s recent struggles in Test matches against New Zealand at home and Australia away. ‘Dada’ firmly backed Kohli’s continued presence in the team.

81 international centuries is unbelievable: Ganguly on Kohli

“Virat Kohli is a once-in-a-lifetime cricketer. To score 81 international centuries in a career is something unbelievable. For me, he’s probably the greatest white-ball player the world has seen,” Ganguly said during a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) felicitation program for the state’s players.

“I was really surprised by the way he batted after getting a 100 in Perth. He struggled before that but I thought after the 100 in Perth, it’ll be a big series for him,” he added.

We will see a different version: Ganguly on Rohit Sharma

Ganguly offered similar thoughts for Rohit, who has had an even worse run in the Test format in recent months and whose legacy as captain took a major beating with the recent Test defeats.

“Rohit Sharma in white-ball cricket is phenomenal, and you will see a different Rohit Sharma once the Champions Trophy starts. And as I said, they (India) will be one of the contenders in the tournament,” said Ganguly.