Asia Cup 2004

Ganguly shrugs off 'chokers' tag

Wisden Cricinfo staff

July 31, 2004

Sourav Ganguly - 'We know how to tackle Vaas and Murali' © AFP

Sourav Ganguly has dismissed notions of India "choking" in finals and believes their performances in the last few years justify his rebuttal. Under Ganguly, India have reached 12 finals and finished as outright winners just once. On two of those occasions, they were joint champions.

Pointing to a few two-team series which went into the deciding game, Ganguly told the Press Trust of India that his team's record wasn't as bad as it was made out to be. "We won in West Indies when we were 1-1. We then beat Pakistan when we were 2-2. These were as good as finals. Then of course there was the NatWest title [when India beat England at Lord's]."

In three out of the last four one-day tournaments involving more than two countries, India were thwarted by the mighty Australians in the final stage. "We have lost to them [Australia] because they are such a good side. They lift themselves in the big match and we must similarly try to do on Sunday."

Sri Lanka nearly pulled off a fantastic victory in the previous game, despite the absence of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. "They will be boosted by Vaas and Murali," said Ganguly, who quickly added, "it isn't as if we would be playing them for the first time, we know how to tackle them."

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Asia Cup

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India

Sri Lanka