Match-winning spell in South Africa was because of Ganguly, Sachin, admits Sreesanth

Until 2006, despite not being tremendous rivals on the pitch, India’s rivalry with South Africa was on another page. Despite all their wins across the world, an elusive win in the Proteas’ backyard was in the huts. In the 2006 series, India toured the country with a relatively younger bowling unit and a strong batting unit. 

All eyes were on the youngster, Sreesanth, who had already made rounds in the country for his speed and swinging ability. The test, however, was a big one, coming against some of the World’s top batsmen in the South African lineup. Ahead of the Johannesburg Test, the right-arm pacer revealed that it was Sourav Ganguly’s efforts in the nets which helped him against Proteas’ skipper Smith. 

“I still remember we had a tour match in Potchefstroom before the Test series. Sourav Ganguly was making a comeback into the team and he would take me out early to the nets before anyone. I wasn’t too good against the left-handers and bowling those lengthy spells to Dada in the nets helped me a lot,” Sreesanth told India Today.

While Ganguly kept the pacer going in the nets, at the game, it was the turn of the other experienced pro, Sachin Tendulkar. The Kerala pacer recalled an incident from the game where the Mumbaikar was constantly talking to the pacer regarding where to bowl. He added that it helped him immensely, as he picked up 5/40 in the first innings. Sreesanth’s first innings spell transpired to be the difference between South Africa gaining an upper hand and Indian winning the encounter.

“If you would notice, I bowled quite well to the South African left-handers, especially Graeme Smith. After every wicket, I would go to Sachin paaji, because he too would keep telling me from mid-off or mid-on where to bowl. I was the Man-of-the-Match, but it was all because of these legends,” he added. 

“I didn’t know India had never won a Test in South Africa and it was only later that I got to know. I used to bowl against these legends in the nets and that made me the bowlers I was,” recalls the pacer.