Ranatunga was at least as good. Took SL from bottom tier team of the early 90s to near top tier team by the last 90s with not as good a team as Gangulys. Won a WC without losing a game, and won in Pakistan, NZ and England too for the first time.Ganguly was a better Captain and Batsmen. Ganguly is a bit underrated as he could not win the World Cup. However, India has to face the Strongest Australian Team in 2003 and it is beyond any Captain to avoid the defeat.
Ganguly achieved in Test Cricket a bigger success by winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2001, when Australia had their very best Batsmen and Bowlers.
Ranatunga was a Good Captain. He got a bit lucky in the Semi-Final against India in 1996.
Ganguly >> Ranatunga
Hmm yeah he was a pioneer too like Ganguly. But if you ask me to choose among the 2 I will go for Ganguly over Ranatunga but I may be wrong. When Murali was branded as throw bowler the way Ranatunga supported Murali was praiseworthy and might have been the reason Murali had a long career. So may be he is more influential as a Captain but based on what Ganguly achieved in 2001 against Australia in Tests I will prefer Ganguly as my Test Captain and also was better batsmen than Ranatunga in both formats of the Game. Before Ganguly as Captain India was called Sachin + everyone, he changed it as he was the reason behind the selection of many match winners like Yuvaraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Sehwag and made them work as a Team. So Ganguly changed Indian Cricket like no one else and his influence can be seen even today in Indian Cricket.Ranatunga was at least as good. Took SL from bottom tier team of the early 90s to near top tier team by the last 90s with not as good a team as Gangulys. Won a WC without losing a game, and won in Pakistan, NZ and England too for the first time.
Like Ganguly, gave SL the belief they could win abroad. Probably tactically better than Ganguly too.
Both of them are teambuilders. However one series at home against Australia doesn't make Ganguly better. In fact, I hardly credit that series to Ganguly's captaincy compared to his series in England and Australia. His defensive captaincy by delaying the declaration almost cost them a victory in Calcutta. People also forget that Ganguly also lost against SL, WI, SA and NZ away so it's not like it was all roses. But he gave the team grit and determination, but Dravid and Dhoni built on his blueprint to achieve even better results.Hmm yeah he was a pioneer too like Ganguly. But if you ask me to choose among the 2 I will go for Ganguly over Ranatunga but I may be wrong. When Murali was branded as throw bowler the way Ranatunga supported Murali was praiseworthy and might have been the reason Murali had a long career. So may be he is more influential as a Captain but based on what Ganguly achieved in 2001 against Australia in Tests I will prefer Ganguly as my Test Captain and also was better batsmen than Ranatunga in both formats of the Game. Before Ganguly as Captain India was called Sachin + everyone, he changed it as he was the reason behind the selection of many match winners like Yuvaraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Sehwag and made them work as a Team. So Ganguly changed Indian Cricket like no one else and his influence can be seen even today in Indian Cricket.
Yeah I have to agree with you. Definitely before Ranatunga Srilanka was no where in the discussion. So may be he is better captain as he laid the foundation for Srilankan Cricket ?.Both of them are teambuilders. However one series at home against Australia doesn't make Ganguly better. In fact, I hardly credit that series to Ganguly's captaincy compared to his series in England and Australia. His defensive captaincy by delaying the declaration almost cost them a victory in Calcutta. People also forget that Ganguly also lost against SL, WI, SA and NZ away so it's not like it was all roses. But he gave the team grit and determination, but Dravid and Dhoni built on his blueprint to achieve even better results.
Overall, their results are comparable to each other, but Ranatunga did his with a weaker team. I don't think that is deniable.
Ian Chappell was a big fan of Ranatunga's captaincy and said when they toured Australia, that his captaincy alone got SL to fight until the last day of test matches before losing.
Saw Cummins saying in one of the documentary series on BG trophy (paraphrasing): "yeah, Jadeja is frustrating, very frustrating"Ganugly and Ranatunga irritate the opposition by their mannerisms.
Sir Jadeja irritates the opposition by his performance. And that leaves a never healing scar.
For all his achievements, Jadeja is still under-rated by a lot. Even here in the forum, he will not get into the India ATG XI for half of the posters while he should be one of the first names to be pencilled in. Great batsman, great bowler and great fielder. Also, along with Pant, he has always come in when India has been under a bit of pressure due to our top-order and delivered every single time.Saw Cummins saying in one of the documentary series on BG trophy (paraphrasing): "yeah, Jadeja is frustrating, very frustrating"
Mostly because of Ashwin and the makeup of the side. The top six of Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli and Pant are pretty much settled. Then Kapil and Bumrah are certain.For all his achievements, Jadeja is still under-rated by a lot. Even here in the forum, he will not get into the India ATG XI for half of the posters while he should be one of the first names to be pencilled in. Great batsman, great bowler and great fielder. Also, along with Pant, he has always come in when India has been under a bit of pressure due to our top-order and delivered every single time.
He has done everything asked of him. But some cricket experts here and outside still point to his bowling record on zero spinning pitches in Eng and NZ to downplay him while not noticing how the home spinners fared worse in the same tests due to the pitch.
That is good logic and yeah I agree if someone picks side that way. But my opinion is slightly varied. Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Pant in the top 5 spots are uncontestable. Likewise as you said, Kapil and Bumrah are certain making it 7 in the side. In addition, Jadeja will be my 8th member to be picked in that team indisputably at either 6-7-8 based on the team make-up.Mostly because of Ashwin and the makeup of the side. The top six of Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli and Pant are pretty much settled. Then Kapil and Bumrah are certain.
That leaves three spots. You pick three spinners then Jadeja gets in. Pick two spinners then you can legitimately go for Jadeja-Ashwin, Jadeja-Kumble or Ashwin-Kumble.
1) GavaskarMostly because of Ashwin and the makeup of the side. The top six of Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli and Pant are pretty much settled. Then Kapil and Bumrah are certain.
That leaves three spots. You pick three spinners then Jadeja gets in. Pick two spinners then you can legitimately go for Jadeja-Ashwin, Jadeja-Kumble or Ashwin-Kumble.