Virat Kohli also human, had to fail one day: Sourav Ganguly on India's defeat to Australia in Pune

New Delhi: Indian captain Virat Kohli, who endured a shockingly below-par performance in the first Test between India and Australia Pune, has got the backing of none other than one of India's most successful captain Sourav Ganguly.

Kohli, who went out on duck for the first time in his Test career in India, scored 13 runs in the second innings as the Aussies continued to maintain an upper hand in the match.

Ganguly, in an interview with India Today, backed Kohli saying he is also a human.

"Kohli is human and he had to fail one day,” Ganguly was quoted saying by India Today. “He failed in both innings in Pune. I think he played a little bit of a loose shot in the first innings outside the off stump but the Australians bowled him there."

"They must have seen Stuart Broad and James Anderson bowling to him in England outside the off stump. In the second innings, I think the game was already over. A 441-run target was a humongous task. Kohli will come back because he is a class act. His record against Australia is unreal," he said.

Dada also lauded Kohli's leadership skills which has led the team 19-match unbeaten streak in Tests saying, "Virat Kohli has terrific leadership skills. I have a lot of faith in his leadership. He is honest which is very important and his message to his team is very clear. I saw his pictures in the newspapers and saw that he was off to a cliff for a break and it is a great thing. He won't keep winning forever."

"To watch those four back-to-back Test match hundreds against Australia in Australia (was surreal). I have not seen even Sachin Tendulkar do that," said Ganguly.

"Getting four Test match hundreds in every venue on your second trip to Australia is a special special effort," added the former captain.

The CAB President also analysed Steve O'Keefe's performance that saw him take 12 wickets in two innings of the match.

"You lose at home as well and many teams have lost. It was not the first time and you just need to get it out of the system, take a break and come back in Bangalore. And when you prepare such pitches as the one in Pune and I know the curator was not happy, then you give average bowlers a chance and I am not belittling Steven O'Keefe.

"But he becomes a wicket-taker which he won' be normally on a batting pitch. India need to prepare good pitches, take the Test match to day four an then take the game forward."

"In Mumbai and Chennai, England scored 400-450 in the 1st innings and India scored over 600 and they came back and won. So, they have done good things. They have the bowling that can win Test matches."