India in Australia: Dressing Room Unrest No Big Issue, Says Sourav Ganguly

An aggressive young man during his heydays as Team India captain, Sourav Ganguly can read the mood in a dressing room like the back of his hand. The dressing room unrest, made public by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after India lost the Brisbane Test by four wickets inside four days, will soon be forgotten when the third Test starts in Melbourne on December 26, Ganguly told a cricket website. (Dhawan Should Have Been Forced to Bat Earlier at Gabba: Kumble | Kohli Should Have Been Prepared: Gavaskar)

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan reportedly exchanged angry words after Kohli was out cheaply after being sent in to bat without any notice. Dhawan had refused to bat first up after being injured during nets before play on Day 4 started. Kohli, who led India in the first Test at Adelaide and slammed back-to-back tons, was bowled by Mitchell Johnson for 1. The passionate man that he is, Kohli felt that he didn't get enough time to prepare and suggested that Dhawan's refusal to bat left him in the lurch. (Sledging Backfiring on Team India: Gavaskar)

Speaking to gocricket.com, Ganguly said such dressing room 'skirmishes' are not uncommon and he had once faced a similar situation in Cape Town when the umpire sent Sachin Tendulkar back since the Little Master was out of the game for about eight-10 minutes. (Wives Set to Join Battered Team India)

"I was in my track-bottoms and after the umpire told Tendulkar that he cannot bat, I had to quickly change and pad up in two minutes and go in. These are not much of an issue," Ganguly said. In Brisbane last Saturday, team director Ravi Shastri reportedly played peacemaker telling Kohli that everyone should be prepared to bat at any time. (India Don't Believe They Can Win Away From Home: Hayden)

Ganguly felt India gifted the second Test at Brisbane, losing the match in two crucial sessions. "India had things under control but lost key moments and finished on the losing side. Two sessions, the morning of the second and third days, completely changed the tide against India. Deep down they will know that they gifted the match to Australia," he said. (Ishant, Aaron Arrived Late on Day 4 at Gabba)

India, Ganguly believes, can still square the series. "Man to man, India are a much gifted and talented side and we have wasted an opportunity to beat Australia in Australia. India are a quality side and I am optimistic."

Ganguly is all praise for stand-in Aussie captain Steven Smith. "It's not easy to replace Michael Clarke and to score a hundred on debut as captain and when Australia were in trouble. This speaks volumes of the man's capability and I am not surprised that Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris feel he is the man to lead Australia in all formats," said Ganguly. (Warner Pledges to Get Into More Indian Heads)