India far ahead of rest: Sourav Ganguly after Oval win

SOURAV Ganguly, the chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was elated over India’s victory over England in the fourth Test match at the Oval and said that Virat Kohli’s men proved that they are “far ahead” of the rest in the Test world.

Ganguly, a former India captain who was a member of the Indian squad that last won a Test series in England 14 years ago, said it had been a “great show” to see pacer Jasprit Bumrah spearhead the Indian attack to bowl the Three Lions for 210 runs on the final day of the Test to give his side a win by 157 runs and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

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By bowling Ollie Pope, Bumrah also became the fastest Indian pacer to reach 100 Test wickets, eclipsing the legendary Kapil Dev.

“The skill is the difference but the biggest difference is the absorbing power of pressure. Indian cricket is far ahead than the rest,” Ganguly, 49, wrote on Twitter. India are currently ranked No.2 in Tests, second only to World Test Championship winners New Zealand who beat the Asian side in June in England.

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England collapsed like a pack of cards after making a strong start in the pursuit of their target of 368. Once Shardul Thakur picked Rory Burns, the hosts lost wickets in a heap, thanks to some fierce show from pacers Bumrah (two for 27 in 22 overs) and Umesh Yadav, who took three wickets for 60.

The victory was especially sweet for the Indian supporters since India were bowled out for 191 on the first day and conceded a lead of 99. They came back strongly in the second innings, thanks to a ton from Rohit Sharma and a late-order surge. They made 466 in their second innings, setting England a target of 350-plus.

“What a comeback! The boys just kept bouncing back after every setback,” former India great Sachin Tendulkar said on Twitter.

“What a way to stamp authority on the last day when England were 77-0.”

Former India batsman VVS Laxman called the win a “special” one.

India won the second Test at Lord’s by 151 runs but England came back hard at them to win the third one at Headingley by an innings and 76 runs.

The fifth Test begins at Old Trafford on September 10.