Kolkata: He is back to commentating after a short break and says he is looking forward reviving the role during the forthcoming Champions Trophy, set to be held in England from June 1-18.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who was voted as the captain of an alltime best ICC Champions Trophy XI by Cricket Australia recently, spoke about India’s chances, favourites for the tournament and the players to watch out for. Excerpts:

Question: You are back at the Commentary Box once again. Now that you’re wearing your analyst’s hat, can you tell me if you are giving India a real chance in the Champions Trophy?

Sourav Ganguly: Yes, absolutely. They have a very good mix of batting and bowling and the fast bowling crop is excellent. Jasprit Bumrah is very good at the death and Bhivaneshwar Kumar is a much improved bowler.

As I have said in the recent past, Hardik Pandya is a big plus to the team with his batting, bowling and fielding and lends a great deal of balance to the bowling unit. In fact, it allows Virat (Kohli) to play five bowlers and in Ashwin and Jadeja India has two spinners who are very capable batsmen. The batting is settled with Virat, Rohit, Yuvraj and Dhoni and I see no reason why they can’t go the distance if they play to potential.

Having said that, however, every team in the Champions Trophy is good. Look at South Africa. I was in Auckland when they lost the 2015 semi-final to New Zealand/ They ought to have won and are a serious side. Pakistan is mercurial. Talent and potential-wise, India should beat Pakistan but you never know.

Australia is a huge side with some tremendous players in Dave Warner, Steve smith, Mitchell Starc etc. So it will be an open tournament in that sense. Finally, with Stokes, Woakes and Ali, England have allround ability which can take on any side.

Are you worried about Virat’s batting form because of the IPL, or it does not really matter?

I am not worried at all. In fact, I will say it will get him going. He is fresh and wants to score. Why only the IPL, he did not score too many in the last Australia series either and is hungry and determined. Make no mistake, He is a great player and will come good. He scored a match-winning 100 against Pakistan in World Cup 2015 under pressure and is a man for the big stage. I am not really concerned about him not scoring too many in the IPL.

Any India-Pakistan game in this political climate is a huge pressure game.

India Pakistan is always a pressure game. There is expectation all round and you want to do well in these games. International cricket for India for that matter is always pressure because the game is no less than a religion in India. But the trick is to try and think of the Pakistan match as just another game and do your best.

India has the players who can soak in the pressure and deliver on the big stage. Except in the 2003 World Cup when Pakistan really had a team that could topple India, we have always had a better team and that shows in the results in ICC events. Edgbaston on June 4 should be no different.

As someone who has been there and done that, tell me about the India-Pakistan contest a little more. How is it captaining in such a game when the whole cricket world literally is watching your every move?

It is a matter of great pride at one level. You as a cricketer want such opportunities to come your way. This is one game that can make you immortal. You want to deliver against Pakistan for people will remember the performance.

Think of the world T-20 in Kolkata. That innings by Virat is still talked about. The stands were full and the buzz was unbelievable. The 2003 Centurion game will forever rank as one of my favourites. The stadium was full two hours before the game and players from both sides wanted to make the most of these occasions. You will have to learn to soak in the atmosphere and not feel overawed because that’s the only way you can perform under pressure.

Final question, name the four semi-finalists...

India, South Africa, Australia and England. Don’t ask me anymore because I won’t go any further!

— The writer is a sports journalist and historian based in Kolkata.