Dada's Base Price Increased..!!!

The IPL has pruned its auction list for the next season from a preliminary 416 to 350, and also increased the base prices of Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. All 80 players named in the top three price bands of the preliminary list have retained their place in the final list for the auction, which is scheduled to be held in Bangalore on January 8 and 9.

In the preliminary list, 21 players including former West Indies batsman Brian Lara had been in the highest bracket of US$400,000, a bunch that Ganguly has now joined after his reserve price was raised from $200,000. Laxman, who has had a vintage year in Tests in 2010, also had his base price bumped up from $200,000 to $300,000.

Ganguly and Laxman are not the first players to modify their reserve prices. Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble had earlier changed their base price from $200,000 to $400,000. An IPL official confirmed that the players had the right to choose their reserve price. "This has been the practice in every IPL," said the league's chief operating officer Sundar Raman, "we merely set the bands of reserve prices."

But one of the franchise officials put a different spin to Ganguly increasing his base price. "Ganguly might have understood that there are not many franchises willing to even consider him. But to my knowledge one of the franchises has already assured him that they will buy him out. So, if there is only one franchise willing to buy but assuring him why not hike his price then. Probably that made Ganguly hike his price."

Read More

India will be Tested in overseas conditions - Ganguly

Read More

Captaincy no longer a big deal for me : Dada

KOLKATA : Come February, the Prince of Calcutta will have a new 'title'. When the Assam University confers an honorary D Litt on him, the former India captain will be referred to as Dr Sourav Ganguly.

That's not all, for there are a lot of things in the pipeline for the now 'retired' Sourav, which may also see him turn out for a new franchise in IPL 4. Sourav spoke to TOI on Thursday, in between facing the camera for a documentary being made on him on what lies in store for him in the New Year - in IPL and his life beyond it.

Excerpts :

It's been two years since you retired from international cricket, but you still seem to be in fast-forward mode...

Phew! I never thought that I would be working so hard two years after my retirement. Having said that, I am enjoying every moment. For someone who has mostly attended team meetings, it is quite a challenge managing my business interests, interacting with lawyers, architects, interior designers and administrators. It's a different world, but an interesting one.

After quite an eventful 2010, how are you looking forward to the new year?

Lots of things in the pipeline. My school is coming up. It's my dream project and I am heavily involved with it. I have television shows lined up which means long shooting schedules. There is a proposal to do a few talk shows on leadership skills. There are a few promotional activities too.

At this stage of your life, what does IPL mean to you?

If I am excited about playing in the IPL, it is not because it is high on money and glamour quotient. It is also not about trying to prove anything. It is simply because I still enjoy playing cricket which has been an integral part of my life.

Are you a touch nervous about the upcoming IPL auction in January?

I am looking forward to it. I have enjoyed my stint with KKR, but now that I am on the auction list, I am open to playing for any franchise. But it will be definitely interesting to see how the teams stack up in Season IV.

Read More

Dada takes on Didi in West Bengal

Former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly started campaigning for the Left Front for the 2011 Assembly elections by comparing a potential Left Front resurrection to his own comeback during his last tour in South Africa. Ganguly said that he had been dropped from the Indian team but made a successful return.

Speaking on the "role of youth in leadership creation" at a memorial service in honour of former mayor Bikash Ghosh in Siliguri, Ganguly stressed the need for hard work to surmount all odds.

He goaded CPI(M) cadres, who have been badly bruised by the marauding Trinamool Congress in recent elections, to believe in their ability to win. He urged them to slog in the "penultimate overs" to stage a comeback. To drive home the point, he harped on the old adage, "Try, try and try again."

When asked about the role fate and good luck played in determining fortunes, Ganguly said that good luck and fortune favoured the brave who did not shy away from a fight to the finish.

An excited Ashok Bhattacharya, West Bengal's Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister, at whose behest Ganguly was in Siliguri, said the former captain not only managed to encourage the CPI(M) cadres and local leaders, but also instilled a sense of confidence among the local youth.

Ganguly will tour the state extensively to boost the flagging morale of young party cadres. Popularly known as Dada, Ganguly decided to take on Didi, that is Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee, at the request of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Ganguly affectionately calls Bhattacharya kaku, or uncle.

Read More

Captain of the decade: Sourav Ganguly --> Cricket Next

- Ranabir Majumdar

New Delhi: No conversation about this decade of Indian cricket is complete without a suitable amount of time being spent on debating the phenomenon who brought about the push-pull tactics to the fore. From being pushed around through the use of verbal tactics to being pulled into a trap, Indian cricket's greatest transformation this decade was the fearlessness with which they approached their opponents and managed to get under their skin.

From a players' skipper to the peoples' skipper, Sourav Ganguly made the transition from being the outsider within his team to finding a place in Indian cricketing folklore. Having established his credentials as a player, Ganguly took on the ominous task of leading the national team with the agenda of showing the world that Indian cricket was tough, intuitive and uncompromising.

In 2000, when Ganguly took over as skipper, he inherited Indian cricket in the midst of confusion and a crisis that was triggered by the match-fixing controversy. There was no clarity of thought, no plan, and no actionable ideas. It was time to bring about a change.

Come 2001 and Ganguly played the role of a shrewd tactician to perfection. Australia, having won 15 Tests in a row, came to win over - what skipper Steve Waugh termed as - the 'final frontier'. Australia had not won a series in India since 1969. In the world of international cricket, they were the undisputed rulers of the game, a team that had conquered every cricketing pitch. And now India was the prize.

The new leader though laid out a different agenda. 'Waugh can forget about the numbers 16, 17 and 18,' Ganguly said. Never before had an Indian captain displayed such guts prior to the start of any series, let alone against Australia. But of course Ganguly was different. He could say and do the unexpected. He was unusual and unconventional.

Australia hammered India in the first Test at Mumbai to win it within three days; and then had them on the mat in Kolkata before VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid turned on the magic on day four and that young spinner Harbhajan Singh came to the party on day five. Sachin Tendulkar roared back in form in the third Test at Chennai and Harbhajan won the 'Turbanator' sobriquet.

Ganguly had cemented his place as Team India's undisputed leader with the defence of the final frontier. The message sent out was loud and clear: this land belongs to us; you can't take it over.

India had found a new cult figure; a folk hero about whom tales would abound and be passed from one generation to another. Tales about how he made Steve Waugh wait for the toss. An act that according to a celebrated cricket writer of our times 'started as a misjudgment and became an amusement that turned into a strategy'.

In 2002, the bare-chested Ganguly stunt on the Lord's balcony was to become the defining moment of his captaincy. There was no place for decorum and norms. It did not matter it was the Lord's – the holiest of cricketing holies. It was India's first one-day tournament victory after having lost nine in a row, six of them under Ganguly.

Over the next year-and-a-half Ganguly and Team India climbed the heights and celebrations of its success reached a crescendo with the spectacular show at the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. An appearance in the final had come after 20 years and Ganguly was the toast of the nation. Finally, he was being mentioned in the same breath as legends like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. I don't think it mattered much to Ganguly as much as it mattered to the people. He did what he had to do, the rest just fell into place.

Ganguly though understood the value of gestures and the importance of appearances. He had an eye for picking and nurturing talent, backing them to the brink and leading by example in the critical hour. What else can explain Yuvraj Singh's comment on his first comeback when he said 'I can die for this captain'.

If the Lord's balcony show was a defining moment in his captaincy, Ganguly's century in the first Test at The Gabba in the 2003-04 tour of Australia was, according to me, the highest moment of his playing career and one that set the tone for the series. The Aussies paid the price of under-estimating the skipper. They threw all that they had, bounced him, tested him, but Ganguly stood there, scoring an invaluable 144. It was this performance that confirmed once and for all that the man could not be shaken. He was the rock.

More glory was in store after Australia. Victory in Pakistan was another peak conquered, but unfortunately it was the peak of a slippery slope. The beginning of the end came soon after India lost the home series to Australia at Nagpur and then his loss of personal form coincided with India's insipid ODI performance. His differences with Greg Chappell were leaked into public domain and the career of a formidable Indian captain was in jeopardy. Ganguly struggled with his form and his fitness levels, and there was a clear desperation to hold on to his job.

But he was not one to be defeated. He capped a fairytale comeback with the South Africa series and went on to put on some superlative displays in England and then in the home series against Pakistan. But the end seemed to be imminent. And finally on October 7, 2008 – two days prior to the start of the first Test against Australia – Ganguly told a press conference that this series would be his last. As I listened to the news and filed it for my website, I ran a movie-clip of Ganguly's decade in my head. But there was one certainty now. There was no chance of losing his place. He had timed his departure in the same manner he used to time the ball on the off-side – cleanly and sweetly.

Taken as a whole, Ganguly's contribution has been more than a triumph. As a player, he was prepared to take on challenges. As a captain, he was prepared to stand up for his players. As a man, he earned his stripes. He was neither the saint nor the devil. But he served Indian cricket with distinction and left a legacy for other skippers to follow.

Courtesy : CRICKETNEXT.com

Read More

"For me sachin is the best, no debate"- Ganguly

Read More

Zaheer will be key for Team India: Ganguly

Kolkata: Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan will hold the key for the No 1 Test side to bounce back in the ongoing series against South Africa, former captain Sourav Ganguly said here on Friday.

"A lot will depend on the Zaheer factor to win the Durban Test. Toss will also play a crucial role in Durban. But we need to bat consistently. I strongly hope that India will bounce back," Ganguly said.

A hamstring injury ruled the left-arm quickie out of the first Test in which they were crushed by an innings and 25 runs at Centurion.
The game was put beyond India in the first two days when they were skittled for 136 before the hosts piled up 620 for four declared.

Down 0-1 after the first of the three-match series, India will have to win the Durban Test beginning Sunday to keep the series alive for the final on in Cape Town from January 2.

Ganguly, who is the chairman of the Bengal Cricket Development Committee, spoke after their mid-season review that met after their Ranji side failed to make the quarters while the u-19 side faced relegation.

"There is a need to develop club cricket... We have proposed a few things that need to be implemented. Change will come but we need sometime," Ganguly said after meeting CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and committee members Ashok Malhotra, Arun Lal and Pranab Roy.

Read More

Same mistakes again and again, says Sourav !!

Calcutta: Bengal cricketers refuse to learn. It might sound harsh, but the truth is after their leap into the final of the 2005-06 Ranji season, the state has almost taken a nosedive. They were relegated in 2007, fought their way back into the elite group in 2008, but they performed like also-rans in the next two years.

Bengal had a chance of making the Ranji quarter finals this year. But they were too patchy to qualify for the knockout stage.

It has been learnt that former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said, on Friday, that there has been no improvement in certain players in the past three years. He noted some senior players are making the “same mistakes again and again” and there has been no change in their approach whatsoever.

Sourav, who is the chairman of the CAB’s Cricket Development Committee, pointed out in a meeting Friday that lack of proper monitoring was a key reason behind the state’s poor performance at various levels. Bengal finished sixth in Ranji Elite Group, whereas the under-19 team was demoted to the plate group this year.

The Cricket Development Committee, which met at the Eden Gardens almost after a year, had a lengthy two-hour session with all members Arun Lal, Ashok Malhotra, Pranab Roy, Sujan Mukherjee, Biswarup Dey and president Jagmohan Dalmiya attending it.

Sourav, it is gathered, also questioned the late recruitment of newly-appointed coach Woorkeri Raman. He reasoned that the team’s Ranji performance could have been better had Raman got more time with the players. The former India opener was appointed in September when he could have been roped in June for a lengthy stint with the senior players.

Sourav also suggested the need for specialised coaches at the grassroots level. He rued the lack of quality spinners in the senior team and said: “There should be separate coaches for batting, bowling (fast and spin bowling) and fielding in the CAB’s cricket academy”.

Sourav reportedly cited lack of temperament and poor endurance level as reasons behind the under-19 team’s failure. He suggested that two-day matches in CAB tournaments be turned into four-day affairs to prepare them for the big events.

“A four-day game allows both sides to bat again and bowlers, too, get a chance to bounce back,” he said.

Like last year, he reiterated the need for a players’ pool from various age groups.

“What Sourav meant is that the pool would comprise players from U-16, U-19, U-22 categories, including the senior players, who are constantly performing well for a good bench strength,” said a member of the Cricket Development Committee.

Ashok Malhotra harped on the need for fair selection for the various state teams. Former Bengal and international cricketer Arun Lal felt the club and local league matches are played on smaller grounds and should be played on bigger turfs to test the fitness of players.

The suggestions from Friday’s meeting, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya, said would be presented to the working committee before being finalised for implementation.

“Today’s meeting was not confined to the players alone. It covered all areas as much as we could discuss in two hours’ time.

“We discussed about the academy, age-group cricket amongst various other issues,” Dalmiya said.

Read More

Six HUJI men convicted 4 plotting to kidnap Sourav,Sachin

NEW DELHI: Six HUJI militants, including three Pakistanis, were on Friday held guilty by a Delhi court for conspiring to kidnap cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in 2002 to secure release of two jailed terrorists.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pinki pronounced the verdict in the case in which the convicts were also accused of plotting to assassinate former President APJ Abdul Kalam during his visit to Patna in 2002.

Delhi police had also charged them with conspiring to attack the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

The three Pakistan-based militants, Tariq Mohammed, Arshad Khan and Ashfaq Ahmed and two Indians - Mufti Israr and Ghulam Qadir Bhatt - were held guilty under the stringent anti-terror law POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), which has been repealed.

Sixth accused Ghulam Mohd Dar, who remained on bail, was taken into custody with the pronouncement of the verdict.

Immediately after the judgment, Dar's son Irfan, who was present outside the courtroom, broke down.

The court fixed January seven as the date for hearing the arguments on quantum of sentence.

The accused faced trial for offences of collecting arms with the intention to wage war against the government and conspiring to commit certain offences against the state.

Besides POTA, the accused were charged under the Arms Act and the three Pakistanis were also tried under the Foreigners Act for trespassing into India.

Initially, the police had arrested ten HUJI militants including six Pakistanis in the case.

Out of them, three Pakistanis - Mohd Amran, Abdul Majeed and Mohd Ashraf - had pleaded guilty in 2003 and were awarded eight years jail term for their varying roles, besides the fine.

Jalaluddin, who was termed as the mastermind, managed to flee from the custody of police during the probe and was later declared as proclaimed offender by the court.

The prosecution had relied upon e-mail exchanges of the accused with their Pakistan-based handlers to drive home the charges.

Defence lawyer MS Khan had rebutted the claim saying the alleged e-mails were forged as most of the accused were in custody during that period.

The militants wanted to secure release of HUJI men Nasarullah Langrial and Abdul Rahim who were then lodged in jails here, prosecutor Anita Hooda had said.

Read More

Raina needs to learn : Dada

As the Indian team soaks the sights and sounds of Sun City after losing the first Test, some of the youngsters will be taking a hard look at themselves — Suresh Raina in particular. The clearly visible unease in both the innings of the Centurion Test may have been understandable had it been Raina’s first series in international cricket.

But the talented left-hander has now played international cricket for over five years, but still has to get his head around his batting.

Since making 32 against Australia in Bangalore, he has had scores of 3, 0, 20, 3, 1 and five. In the first Test he was out in an identical manner in both the innings — playing away from his body. Bred on sub-continent wickets, it’s a disease that he’s carried from home. Now his form has begun to worry even his most ardent supporter, MS Dhoni.

“To some extent, yes,” Dhoni said when asked if Raina’s form, or the lack of it, was cause for concern. But he tried defending him, saying that “you need a bit of experience to play under these conditions.”

“The last time he came here was in 2006, and he was not part of the (Test) side. He has played some ODIs and T20s, which is a completely different format. Against the red ball, the approach changes, the mindset changes. You need a bit of time. I think he will get back to form soon,” Dhoni said.

After the Nagpur Test against New Zealand, the Indian captain blamed mental fatigue for Raina’s poor run but here the tone sounds a bit different.

If Raina does play at Durban, one can only feel sorry for Cheteshwar Pujara who must be thinking what wrong he has done by winning India the Test against Australia in Bangalore.

Look no further

Meanwhile, Raina need look no further than the Indian dressing room. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag have tasted success at the highest level because they realised very early in their careers when to switch on and off.

During India’s last tour of England in 2007, they were playing a two-day game at Leicestershire against the Sri Lankan ‘A’ side. Tendulkar excused himself from the tie and used the break to fine tune his batting against short-pitched bowling with the aid of a bowling machine.

India were already one up in the series after winning the Nottingham Test. After playing a huge role along with Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan in the Test, Tendulkar could have afforded to put his feet up.

But he knew that England, smarting after the reverse at Nottingham, was going to come hard at them at The Oval. He scored a gritty 82 in the last Test; Ganguly, who had had some valuable partnerships with the master in the series, had spoken to us about that innings.

“The guts he showed, the hunger he showed, with so much runs behind him, taking blows on the body speaks volumes about him. He knew how crucial it was for the team to win the series.”

Ganguly recalled the moment Tendulkar returned to the dressing room. “There were black and blue marks all over his body because of the blows he took,” Ganguly reminisced. “The fight he showed is an example for any cricketer.” Maybe if the likes of Raina could take a paragraph, if not a leaf, out of Tendulkar’s book, we could see a very different brand of batsmanship emerge.

Read More

Ganguly hopeful about India's chances at 2011 World Cup

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly said he is hopeful the recently announced Indian squad would win the forthcoming World Cup.

Interacting with mediapersons here on Thursday, Ganguly said that seeing the performance of Indian players at home ground, a victory in the World Cup could be expected.

"I am very hopeful. India is a very strong One Day International (ODI) team and they are playing it at home. If they can handle the pressure of the people at home, they'll be at the side who can win the World Cup," said Ganguly.

He further remarked that the team's performance in the first test against South Africa was disappointing but he was optimistic of the second test in Durban.

"Nobody wants to lose, am sure none of us, none of the players, or the team, or the supporters would be happy with the loss. But it can happen. You can win some game, you can lose some game, and am sure they will bounce back in the next tour... obviously toss will be important," said Ganguly.

The Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, beginning from February 19, 2011..!

Read More

Sourav Ganguly in ICC Shortlist for greatest ODI Team

Dada has been nominated for the GREATEST ODI team in the world!!! Proud of him!!! vote here for Dada n select ur "GREATEST ODI TEAM OF ALL TIME"

Voting Link : http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/events_and_awards/greatest_odi_team/index.php

Plz vote for DADA.
Dream ICC ODI Team.
Don't forget mates. Try voting multiple times.. If you're a true DADA fan and want his name to live, plz VOTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR DADA!!! :)

To complete d voting process, dn't forget to activate the link send by iccvote@icc-cricket.com to you.. :)

Read More

Yuvi is counting on Sourav tips

Calcutta: If you thought Yuvraj Singh’s visit to the city, on Wednesday, was just about fun and entertainment, you are mistaken. The swashbuckling all-rounder, who was here to shoot for a television programme hosted by Sourav Ganguly, not only enjoyed the former India skipper’s quizzing skills, but also went back with some vital tips for the forthcoming ODI series in South Africa.

The all-rounder, who made his ODI and Test debut under Sourav, said: “Yes, he (Sourav ) has told me to work on a few things. I will try and keep them in mind.”

Yuvraj feels the ODI series is going to be an uphill task and it will be important to get used to the conditions as fast as possible.

“It’s going to be a tough tour. The wickets will be different. So, we need to practice accordingly,” Yuvraj said.

“The Ranji matches that I played before the New Zealand ODIs gave me a lot of practice. I played in three games, spent enough time on the wickets and got runs as well. It definitely helped me to prepare for the one-dayers. Hopefully, in the coming few weeks, I will be able to tune myself up for the ODIs in South Africa,” he said.

Yuvraj refused to set a date for his Test comeback saying, “I don’t know… It’s up to the selectors”.

“India have lost the first Test, but I am sure they will bounce back. We’ve been the No. 1 Test team for the past two years. But, certainly, it’s not going to be an easy tour for us,” he added.

Source : Telegraph India

Read More

It’s an unbelievable achievement --> Sourav Praising Sachin

Calcutta: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has, through a brief interaction with The Telegraph, saluted Sachin Tendulkar.

Sourav, by the way, has always been close to Sachin.

The following are excerpts

Sachin’s 50th Test hundred...

-->It’s an unbelievable achievement... I doubt if anybody else will get there. Look at where Sachin has placed Indian cricket, what awesome feats.

Whether he watched the moment

-->I did... Saw the 100th run on the TV... I did get emotional.

First thoughts

-->Felt very happy for Sachin... What a quality hundred! It’s an honour that I shared the India dressing room with him for 12-13 years.

The Sachin hundreds which stand out

-->(Laughs) All.

His take on where Sachin stands in the debate over who is the all-time greatest..

-->Sachin, for me, is the greatest. There’s no debate.

This having been a fantastic year for Sachin

-->Absolutely... Just goes to show that age has nothing or little to do with performance. He’ll keep getting hundreds till he decides to call it a day.

What sets Sachin apart ??

-->Ability, more than anything else... Sheer ability.

Finally, whether he’ll be calling/messaging Sachin

-->I’ll definitely text him my congratulations.

Read More

" I will prefer playing for KKR " - Ganguly

Read More

Lack of practice match cost India dearly: Ganguly

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) Former captain Sourav Ganguly said Saturday that Indian team played poorly in the first Test against South Africa as they did not have any practice match to acclimatise themselves to the conditions ahead of the three-match Test series.

'Players like Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Jaydev (Unadkat) are all playing their first Test matches in South Africa. They can only get better with experience and rise to the occasion. Also the fact that you entered straightaway into a Test match without playing a practice game made things even more difficult,' said Ganguly after the final day of Bengal's Ranji Trophy Super League match against Railways.

Ganguly defended Gambhir and said: 'Gautam is a class player and he will definitely make a comeback. You have to understand that there is always a start.'

Ganguly, who scored a fighting half century in Johannesburg in India's only Test victory in South Africa in the 2006-07 series, felt that the conditions became difficult for the Indians as they didn't get much time to acclimatise.

'It was an important toss to lose if you take the conditions under consideration. The pitch was a bit damp after rain and it was difficult conditions for batting,' Ganguly said.

Ganguly said Indians will now have to get their act right quickly, to make a comeback in the match.

'In this Test match they already have their backs to the wall. So the quicker they can apply themselves and make comeback, it's better for the team. After Centurion, they would be next playing in Durban which is another fast deck,' he said.

Asked if pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's absence has cost the team, Ganguly said: 'Zaheer is only a human. He will get injured. But if someone gets injured, it gives an opportunity to another player.'

'Even if Zaheer had played this match, Ishant and Sreesanth needed to bowl well from the other end. Tomorrow, Harbhajan might also get injured. Then one would expect Ravichandran Ashwin to do well just like the young Tamil Nadu offie did against New Zealand in the recently concluded ODI series.'

Ganguly also expressed his desire to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

'I will be up for auctions. Where I would play is not in my control although I would love to play for Knight Riders as I have done well for them last year,' he said.

Read More

KKR owner will push for Dada but decisions CEO’s !!!

SRK reveals hands-off policy

shah Rukh Khan has said he would “certainly push for” Sourav Ganguly in the next IPL auction but added that he has given a free hand to the new chief executive of Kolkata Knight Riders since “the truth is I don’t know how to run a cricket team”.

With emotions giving way to “professionalism”, Shah Rukh said “a part of us might be a little cold”, hinting that some hard decisions may have to be taken even at the auction.

“No, no… Dada is a friend, he is like a brother. I love him too much. I understand where he comes from. In my heart, he is one of my biggest heroes… has always been. We will certainly push for Dada in the auction,” Shah Rukh Khan told The Telegraph today at a Mumbai hotel where his new TV show Zor Ka Jhatka was launched.

The actor was responding to a question if the decision not to retain Sourav in the team had any parallels with a statement of the coach, played by Shah Rukh in Chak De! India: “Har team mein ek hi gunda hota hai aur iss team ka gunda main hoon.”

According to the Bollywood superstar, he would always have Ganguly leading the Knight Riders but SRK the KKR boss is no longer calling all the shots. “I am not the Chak De! coach that I played in the film… I have accepted that,” he said.

Shah Rukh pointed out that whatever money the team was making was mainly because of his endorsements and not because of the exploits on the field.

“I take my IPL team very emotionally, not like a business as people believe. It’s not a profit-making company. We make a little money because of my endorsements primarily. But we haven’t performed well at all on the field. And sometimes you just have to accept the truth and the truth is I don’t know how to run a cricket team,” he said.

So, chucking Ganguly from the team has been a business decision, a decision not taken by Shah Rukh. “I have a new CEO now and I have got a new set of people and I have told them to do it the way they wish. And the first commercial decision was that retaining one player is too expensive. So, we had to either let go of all or retain all four. We decided to start anew, start afresh and hopefully go back to the auction and get back the players we want, including Dada.”

Venky Mysore, who has worked in the financial sector for over 25 years, is the team’s new CEO and MD.

Even if Ganguly doesn’t make it to the side, KKR will gun for gold and glory. “In this process of professionalisation that we are going through, a part of us might be a little cold,” Shah Rukh said.

“But the important thing is to win the IPL tournament for Calcutta. At the end of it all, that is the goal. Because I honestly think that I have let down Calcutta… a sporting city like Calcutta. This is how we have started but I want KKR to end as the best sporting club of the country. I just need that one victory. That is my goal. And I think Dada’s goal is also that. All of us want to win it for Calcutta.”

Shah Rukh said he had not been able to talk to Ganguly yet. The actor plans to make a trip to Calcutta in January not only to speak to Dada but to plot strategy for the auction with the full KKR team. “All of last year I couldn’t do anything because of my back operation and the very difficult post-operative phase… so the last five months I shot back to back for Ra.One and Don 2,” he said.

Read More

I was ready for the blows and bruises : Ganguly

THE LATEST INDIA-SA SERIES BEGINS TODAY. IN AN INTERVIEW TO LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI, FORMER CAPTAIN SOURAV GANGULY REFLECTS ON THE 2006-07 CONTEST THERE

If much of the attention in the lead-up to the latest India-South Africa Test series has been on Sachin Tendulkar, all the attention in 2006-07 was on Sourav Ganguly’s comeback. Sourav, who made the critics (including some exceedingly high profile ones) eat their words, spoke to The Telegraph for over 45 minutes on that Test series.

The following are excerpts

Q What was uppermost in your mind when you landed in South Africa, on the eve of the three-day game against Rest, in Potchefstroom?

A Landed with very positive thoughts and I was determined... Come blows, bruises... I was ready to face everything and there was no fear... Even if it meant dying in pursuing the goal I’d set myself, so be it. My mindset was such that I had to be successful, that I would return home with runs against my name.

All about wanting to prove a point?

No.

You drove straight to Potchefstroom, after landing in Johannesburg...

I did, yes... And, on reaching the team hotel, was told that the coach (Greg Chappell) was expecting me “straightaway” at nets... I left for the ground within 15-20 minutes. Unusually, there was no jet-lag. It helped that I’d slept on the flight from Mumbai.

How did Chappell greet you?

Chappell was warm... As was (captain Rahul) Dravid... I could make out that the boys were happy to see me back in their midst after 10 months.

Did Chappell and Dravid make you feel comfortable?

Yes... Others, too... Sachin, Viru (Virender Sehwag), Harbhajan (Singh), Zak (Zaheer Khan)... Even when I wasn’t in the team, I’d been in touch with some of the players... I’d either talk to them over the phone or exchange text messages... For a period, I wasn’t a part of the team, but they were a part of me... I’d already been in the India dressing room for 10 years, so it wasn’t that I felt out of place... It was like returning to the good old days.

Specifically, what did Chappell tell you?

After I’d batted, he said I was looking in “good touch.” That I’d got runs in domestic cricket back home obviously helped me look good at nets.

How did your interaction with Dravid go?

We had a fairly long chat during nets itself... As we’d been thrashed in the ODIs, he appeared to be a bit down... I can’t recall what exactly I said, but it must have been about the Test series giving us the chance to set things right.

You scored 83, an innings which confirmed that you’d be in the XI when the three-match Test series began (December 15, 2006)

It was great to get those runs and that innings showed I was there to contribute to the team’s cause... Looking back, that one innings in Potch sorted out everything.

The first Test, at the Wanderers, began less than a week after the Potchefstroom match... One recalls you regularly spent extra time at nets... Was determination at play?

Well, I was being driven by determination... Then, as a senior player, I had a job to do.

But weren’t you feeling the pressure?

(After a pause) Pressure wasn’t anything new... I’d handled it for 10 years... The pressure of performing was there, yes, but I wasn’t bothered about anything else... It’s not that I was having to cope with something unique.

What did you tell yourself on the eve of the Wanderers Test?

That I was good enough for this level and had performed at this level... I knew that runs overseas, particularly in a country like South Africa, would count for a lot. I didn’t find the challenge daunting, it actually got me fired up.

On a lively wicket, you walked in to bat at 110 for four...

That Wanderers wicket remains one of the two most difficult tracks I've batted on...

The other one?

For totally different reasons, the wicket at the Green Park (Kanpur), which hosted the last Test of the 2007-08 series against South Africa... One was green and seaming, the other a dry minefield.

[Thanks to Sourav, the MoM, who scored 87 and 13 not out, India won by eight wickets to square the series.]

You remained not out on 51, top-scorer in a total of 249... Nobody could’ve scripted a better comeback. What were your own emotions?

I was happy... South Africa were shot out for 84 in their first innings (on Day II), so you can well imagine how much tougher the conditions were initially.

What made the difference for you?

My mindset... As I’ve told you, I could’ve had my teeth or jaw broken, could even have been killed, but I was determined.

MoM Sreesanth’s fiver in the first innings ensured that the Test finished with more than a day to spare. India winning (by 123 runs) on your comeback made it special... Four years on, how do you look back?

With some emotion and plenty of satisfaction... Our first Test win in South Africa is going to stay memorable... That allowed us to get away from the usual business of ‘been-there-with-nothing-to-show’... We didn’t have to face the ‘same-old-story’ situation.

From such a high, why did we crash in the very next Test, at Kingsmead, losing by 174 runs?

There’d been a gap of more than a week... Bottomline is that we didn’t bat well. I accept that the win at the Wanderers should’ve lifted us, but we just didn’t get it right. At one stage, South Africa had been four down for 122 in their first innings, but recovered. That opportunity came and went.

After scoring 414 in the first innings of the final Test, at Newlands, we ought to have really taken advantage of such a start... Instead, we lost by five wickets, helping South Africa to win 2-1...

I’m still disappointed by that result... It’s a Test which should’ve been won or saved by India.

You scored 66 and 46, the second innings seeing much drama. How did you react on being told that you’d have to bat at No.4 (second innings)?

(Laughs) Where was the time to react? I was in my tracksuit, as I was to bat at No.6... Sachin was going at the fall of (Wasim) Jaffer’s wicket, but he was stopped by the third umpire on technical grounds... Having been off the field, he couldn’t return to the action straightaway... (VVS) Laxman couldn’t be ‘traced’ when, in fact, he was in one of the showers... I don’t know how he manages to have a shower just before going out to bat, though... Being the last specialist batsman, I was asked to immediately pad up and rush. I did.

The series ended with you finishing as the most successful batsman for India (214 runs at an average of 42.80)... Your world changed, didn’t it?

Look, the vibes I felt in the dressing room gave more satisfaction... From what I could make out, everybody was happy that I’d contributed on my comeback... That I’d justified my recall. (After a pause) Many, I’m sure, didn’t like what had happened to me for 10 months and, so, they had more reason to be happy.

Frankly, did either you or Chappell go the extra mile to smoothen relations?

Yes, not that there was a problem in that series.

How about Dravid who, as the captain, had been a party to your being dropped?

I’d say he was nice.

What’s your take on the series beginning Thursday?

It’s going to be tough, but if our quicks stay fit, then South Africa’s batsmen will find themselves under pressure... If there’s a worry, it’s that we haven’t played a warm-up match... The coach (Gary Kirsten) and (captain Mahendra Singh) Dhoni should’ve insisted on one. I’m surprised why that wasn’t done.

It’s a contest between the No.1 and the No.2-ranked teams...

More than the rankings, the quality of cricket over the 15 days will determine who stands where.

Should Sachin be left alone, allowed to get his 50th Test hundred in peace?

Absolutely... But, having said that, I concede that the hype is inevitable... It’s mind-boggling that Sachin’s already got 49 hundreds and that (Muttiah) Muralidharan has 800 Test wickets! They’ve taken cricket to another level.

The last one... What would be your message to Dhoni?

Be positive and look to consistently play good cricket. Good luck!

Read More

Dav, not Shah Rukh, broke the news - First Sourav comments after KKR release

Calcutta, Dec. 14: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coach, Dav Whatmore, not principal owner Shah Rukh Khan, informed icon Sourav Ganguly that the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise would neither be retaining him nor any other cricketer.

“Yes, Dav was honest about the whole thing.… Shah Rukh and the other owners have the right to revamp KKR and that has been exercised.… I accept that KKR have underperformed in the first three seasons, there’s no doubt there, but while revamping, owners must generally be careful in doing away with the performers,” Sourav told The Telegraph this evening.

The hugely popular franchise finished last in the IPL’s second edition, a performance which was preceded and followed by third-last finishes.

Speaking for the first time after the KKR decision was made public officially last week, Sourav said: “I haven’t thought much about it, so I can’t convey my feelings to you.… Can’t say whether I’m disappointed or not.... That KKR would’ve had to pay $1.8 million to keep me could also have been a factor.… That’s a big sum and the franchise has chosen to enter the auction with the entire kitty — $9 million.…”

Talking on the drive to the airport to catch a Delhi-bound flight for the Bengal-Railways Ranji match from tomorrow, Sourav added: “Of course, the chance is there that I may still be bought by KKR at the auction.… Equally, in IPL IV, I could be turning out for a new franchise.

“Experience has taught me that there’s no point losing sleep over selection matters.… Why fret over something totally beyond my control? At the end of the day, a batsman should score and, last season, I totalled close to 500 runs... 493, in fact.… Performance is in my control, surely not the other things.”

Understandably, perhaps, there was a hint of emotion.

Significantly, there has been “no communication” between Sourav, who captained KKR in the first and third editions, and Shah Rukh, even after the decision became public.

What about the millions who connect with KKR through him?

Sourav replied: “At this stage, I wouldn’t like to comment.… After all, the auction isn’t over.… It’s to be seen what happens.… The franchises had the opportunity to retain players and quite a few have been kept out of the auction.… I’m surprised why the Delhi DareDevils didn’t hold on to Gautam Gambhir and why the Rajasthan Royals didn't keep Yusuf Pathan.”

Asked if the Sahara-owned Pune franchisee would go all out for him in the auction, Sourav answered: “I don’t know. It’s an open process. X may bid $1 million for a particular player, but Y could throw in $1.2 million.… What then? You can’t predict anything.…”

Few would take him on there.

Footnote: “It’s a two-way traffic, not a one-way flow.… Bengal are getting my services in some crucial matches and I’m able to stay in touch with the game and stay in shape for the IPL,” Sourav pointed out.

Read More

Dada to play Ranji Against Railways

DAda ll play tomorrow in a Ranji match against the Railways."on d tough wicket, sourav is d inspiration, manoj is d hope"says a Bengal paper.

Looking for an outright win against the Railways in their concluding league match to qualify for the quarter finals of the Ranji Trophy, Bengal had a serious net session at the Karnail Singh Stadium, Monday morning.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who will be playing this match, is yet to arrive and according to team sources, will join the squad on Tuesday.

With 12 points in their kitty, Bengal are placed fifth in Group A. Railways are just one point behind with 11 points and also have a chance to make the last-eight stage.

Fresh from their triumph over Delhi in the previous tie, Railways are likely to offer a spinning track to the visitors. Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary is aware of it and even hinted that Bengal might include an extra spinner in the playing 11.

“I had a look at the Karnail Singh wicket and it is likely to assist the spinners,” said Tiwary.

“I can understand their plan since they have Murali Kartik in the team. We, too, have good spinners and I am hopeful of getting a result from this match. The spinners will definitely play a big role,” added the Bengal skipper.

Tiwary said he was satisfied with the team’s performance so far though they have failed to score an outright win. “Except against Mumbai and Assam, we have played well. We could not produce results because we played on dull pitches,” he said.

Read More

Dada takes on Didi, to campaign for CPI(M) !!!

CPI(M), which is staring at an uncertain future in West Bengal after the drubbing it got from opposition Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha and municipal elections, has received a shot in the arm, with Sourav Ganguly, star cricketer and darling of the masses in the state, agreeing to campaign for the party in next year’s assembly election.

Sourav aka Dada will be pitted against the charismatic Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee aka Didi.

The cricketer was persuaded by West Bengal corporation affairs and urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya, whom Sourav calls kaku (uncle). In the coming days, Sourav will take a tour of the state to boost morale of Left Front workers in the run-up to next year’s election.

Sourav will start his new innings with a lecture in Bhattacharya’s assembly constituency Siliguri on December 23. The subject of the lecture, Role of youth in leadership creation, suits the aim with which the Left is fielding him.

Read More

Sahara Pune Warriors Interested In "DADA" ?

After Kolkata Knight Riders decided not to retain their Former Captain and Iconic Player Sourav Ganguly. Sources Closed to Sahara Pune Warriors have quoted to “Maharashtra Times” That their Franchise is very much interested in roping the Former Indian Captain to Play for Newly Formed Pune Warriors Team Which is owned by “Sahara Group”.

Sahara Pune Warriors Owner Subrata Roy’s close Relations with Sourav Ganguly who is also fondly termed as “DADA” seem to be the reason behind the interest of the new franchise in Former KKR Captain.

Pune Warriors Franchise was brought by Sahara Group in 1700/- Cr INR. Since Then Talks of Ganguly playing and leading Warriors started to loom around cricketing circles. But that time Ganguly had denied all speculations and said “I will only play for KKR till I play T20”.

But After KKR Did not give the later his due respect its time for him to take a total recall of his decision to stay with kkr and offer coming from Pune Warriors is too lucrative for “DADA” to rethink upon his decision to stick with KKR.

Close Relations of Subrata Roy and Sourav Ganguly are very much known to every one in cricketing cricle’s. The Day when KKR Had announced they wont retain their Former captain and Iconic Player, “DADA” was seen in a party which was organized for wedding ceremony of Subrata Roy's niece, held at Sahara in Lucknow

Source Closed to Pune Warriors Said “We are Definitely Interested to buy Dada but we have to buy him in auction in which we might have to go through many hurdles. But we are Firm on our decision to Bid for him and try our best to bring him to pune warriors.”

Sourav Ganguly has been kept For Auction by IPL Governing Council has kept Dada in Group C Where his Base price is 92 Lakh INR. IPL 4 Auction is scheduled on January 8 and 9 2011.

Dada As Captain ?

After Sources Closed to Pune Warriors Disclosed their interest in approaching Sourav Ganguly for their Franchise the talks have began if they will hand over the captaincy charge to the Former Indian Captain who have led Team India to Glory uncountable times under his able leadership. But the Official choose to remain Silent on this issue “Dada is a Valuable player and a Brilliant Captain. How to utilize his skills are Job of Team Management and the coach. As a Player he was at his best in Last IPL but he failed as a Captain, In end Final Call will be taken by the Team Management and our Owner”.

Read More

Sourav enthrals Bengal, this time as quiz-master

Bengal's love affair with Sourav Ganguly continues unabated. The flamboyant former cricket captain is back to his charming best - but this time as a quiz master on the popular Bengali TV show 'Dadagiri Unlimited.'

Sourav's witty questions and sharp repartees are on display Thursday to Sunday evening on Zee Bangla channel.

Now in its second season, the quiz show has given other prime time TV shows a run for their money. And West Bengal can't get enough of the latest avatar of the 'Prince of Kolkata'.

According to Zee Bangla officials, after the grand success of "Dadagiri Unlimited" in its maiden season, with over 800 participants, season 2 has seen the programme gain a wider public appeal with more than 25,000 people coming for auditions from all the 19 districts of the state.

"The show has grown bigger this time. Sourav as an anchor has been accepted wholeheartedly. He has been excellent and the show is getting bigger day by day," Zee Bangla's executive vice president and business head Sujay Kutty told IANS.

Dada's witty posers, along with a sprinkling of intelligent humour and pranks, have charmed both the participants and celebrity contestants like Shah Rukh Khan, Mithun Chakroborty, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Shaan.

The participants, accustomed to seeing an aggressive and flamboyant Sourav, are enthralled to see the former team India captain cracking jokes and encouraging them to answer the questions.

"Earlier, I had never seen Dada so closely. It feels really great. He spoke to me. He enquired from which school I was, where I lived. This day will remain as the most memorable day of my life. He also gave me an autograph," said Satdip Mukherjee, a participant from West Midnapore district and a Class 12 commerce student.

For his legion of fans who idolise him, it was a dream come true to chat with their beloved Dada. "It was dream come true to talk with Sourav. It felt great to shake hands with him. I told him that once I went past his house in Kolkata but could not see him. Dada was excellent as an anchor," Somnath, a medical student of R.G. Kar Medical College, told IANS.

Celebrities such as Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala and Bengali actress Rachana Banerjee had tough moments facing Dada's bouncers in season 2.

With Sourav as the host, can cricket be far behind? Thus, the quiz rounds are named Selection, Toss, Power Play, Cover Drive, Googly, Slog Over and Bapi Bari Jaa (Ganguly's war cry after hitting a six). Clearly, the audience is not complaining.

"From Thursday to Saturday I leave all my work behind and sit in front of the TV to watch Dada's questions. Whether on or off the field, he will remain one of the greatest Bengalis," said Gargi Dasgupta, a regular viewer.

Read More

Goodbye to Yu Dada.. :( Must Seen Video for All Dada Fans..

Read More

Ganguly Proposes change in Ranji Format

Chennai: The BCCI technical committee is planning a change in the Ranji Trophy structure from the 2011-12 season. It's been learnt that instead of two teams getting relegated, the committee wants four teams to face the drop. The technical panel, consisting of stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly, met in Chennai on Friday.

"It was proposed that two teams should be relegated from the Elite Group and two teams should go up from the Plate Group," a BCCI source said. The committee felt this will make the tournament "all the more interesting". "If four teams get relegated, there will be more pressure on the sides to go for outright victories. That can make the format all the more competitive," the source said.

In the current format, two teams get relegated while two teams make the Elite Group. In fact, the two teams that come up join the top-six in the knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy. The committee, however, is not too keen to tamper with the concept of two teams joining the Elites. "It's not a problem if the top two sides make the cut. It will only increase the competition for top berths in the Plate Group," the source added.

Read More

Assam varsity honour for Sourav !!

New Delhi, Dec. 9: Sourav Ganguly will receive an honorary degree from the Assam University, Silchar, for his contribution to Indian cricket.

The former captain is among four persons who will be awarded the Degree of Honoris Causa by the central university at a special convocation on February 1, after the President clears the names.

The others are Homen Bargohain for his contribution to regional literature and journalism, Irfan Habib for humanities and social sciences and K.G. Subramaniyam for creative arts.

In line with the Assam (Central) University Act, 1989, the institution has sent the names to the HRD ministry seeking clearance from the President, who is Visitor of the university.

“We have received a letter from the university vice-chancellor Prof Tapodhir Bhattacharya for conferment of the honorary degrees on four eminent personalities, including Ganguly. The university has sent the curriculum vitae and profile of these personalities. We will send the list to the President’s office for clearance,” a top ministry official said.

The names were approved by the institution’s academic council and executive council. “The university has informed the eminent persons about the decision to confer the degrees. Today we got an email from Mr Ganguly on his acceptance of the degree. He has conveyed his special thanks,” vice-chancellor Bhattacharya said.

Asked about the university’s gesture, Ganguly told The Telegraph this evening: “I am happy and honoured.”

For the 38-year-old, who has just been “dropped” by Kolkata Knight Riders, this will be the second honorary degree after the honorary fellowship he was awarded by the University of Central Lancashire last year.

Cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have received similar degrees from Andhra University and MGR University in Tamil Nadu in the past.

“Ganguly is a wonderful player and is one of the best cricket captains the country has produced. He deserves the honorary degree,” Bhattacharya said.

Prof Madhava Menon, the founder director of National Law School of India University, Bangalore, has consented to be the chief guest, he added.

Assam University came into existence through Assam (Central) University Act, 1989, and was established in 1994.

Read More

Ganguly Not Interested to Play for KKR any more According to ABP!

According to Bengali Daily ABP , Sourav Ganguly is no more Interested to Play for KKR in IPL 4. Ananda Bazar Patrika has acquired from Sources which are believed to be his friends That he has already decided to Play for some other Franchise in IPL 4 but not KKR even if KKR Bids for him. It is believed he and "Unnamed" Franchise have an agreement between them. Though Sourav Ganguly has not disclosed anything Officially.

KKR didnt wanna retain any of the old players as they are planning to buy new players from auction.If SRk wish to buy him from auction ganguly might not play for his hometown..He didnt announce it officially but one of his close friends said this.. Also he believe that deal is final between sourav and some other franchise and he is ready to leave KKR..

Read More

KKR didnt retain any of the players for IPL 4

Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir are among the big names released by their IPL franchises, along with Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle and Andrew Symonds, while Virat Kohli is the surprise retention for his team for the next three seasons. Wednesday was the deadline for the franchises to name the players they would retain from their current squads and while there is no common thread running through the choices of players retained and released, the key factors seem to be form, brand appeal and age.

Kolkata Knight Riders, Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab have decided not to retain any of their players, while all the other IPL franchises have held back at least one current player. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, the 2010 finalists, have retained the maximum of four players each, in the process parting with half of the $9 million salary cap available to teams.

According to the auction rules for IPL 4, teams can retain up to four players, only three of whom can be Indians. The retained players - who must have been part of the franchise's registered squads for the 2010 season - will be valued at $1.8 million for the first player, $1.3 million for the second, $900,000 for the third and $500,000 for the fourth.

Mumbai, as expected, held on to Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer of the 2010 season, offspinner Harbhajan Singh, West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard and Sri Lanka seamer Lasith Malinga. Chennai took the Indian trio of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and M Vijay out of the auction, in addition to South African allrounder Albie Morkel, their regular opening bowler. Delhi Daredevils retained only Virender Sehwag, meaning Gambhir - their captain for the last two seasons - is in the auction pool.

The most interesting choice came from Royal Challengers Bangalore whose sole retention is Virat Kohli, currently on an impressive run in ODIs. There is no place for Dravid, their icon player, nor for Anil Kumble, their captain and the head of the state association. Kolkata's decision to drop Sourav Ganguly, the biggest cricketing name to emerge from the city and the face of the franchise's on-field persona, is a bold step.

Punjab's decision to release all their players was expected following their dismal 2010 season, which means Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Yuvraj Singh will go under the hammer.

Siddhartha Mallya, owner of the Bangalore franchise, said the decision to retain just one player was backed by financial logic. "You must realise that with retention, a big chunk of your budget gets taken away," Mallya told ESPNcricinfo. " Mumbai and Chennai have kept four players, which means that half their budget is gone. It finally comes down to how much money one was going to lose. We have a big balance sheet but we have lost $1.8 million for keeping one player. We still have about $7-odd million left but if we had retained four then we would have had to buy virtually an entire squad with the remaining half."

Age is not a universal disqualification. It didn't count in Tendulkar's case, nor in that of Shane Warne, Rajasthan's coach and captain, who was retained by Rajasthan Royals, along with Shane Watson, a day ahead of the deadline. One franchise official explained the difference: "Warne is a global brand so that only helps to promote the franchise."

If Rajasthan opted for Warne because they have always viewed the IPL as a global brand, Mumbai went with Tendulkar and Harbhajan for their popularity. Pollard and Malinga may have made the cut on account of being impact players, who have backed up their strong Twenty20 credentials with consistent performance.

Sehwag's match-winning abilities, coupled with his rapid emergence as a brand, clearly had a say in Delhi's decision to retain him. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina must have been shoo-ins for Chennai following their compelling IPL and international form. Vijay's performances, coupled with his potential to attract a strong local fan-base, must have tilted the scales in his favour, while Morkel's proven all-round skills were always going to be an asset. If there is a stranger in this crowd, it could be Kohli. Despite his owners trumpeting his recent performances, Kohli is still work in progress. But he is young, ambitious and has the youth appeal - all qualities of the UB Group's target audience.

Read More

Former Bengal captains want Sourav in KKR

Amidst the reports of Sourav Ganguly's possible release from Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL IV, former Bengal captains Sambaran Banerjee and Gopal Bose have said that the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise might lose its support base in Kolkata in absence of its most popular sporting icon.

"Sourav is the best option to lead KKR in the upcoming IPL. I don't understand the rumours about his possible release by the team management. It is really unnecessary and unwanted.

Team needs him the most," Sambaran Banerjee, a former national selector and under whom Ganguly made his first-class debut told PTI Bhasha from Kolkata.

There are rumours that KKR have decided to let Kolkata's favourite son be up for auctions and not retain him. More importantly, they won't retain any player although they are keen on retaining explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle.

"If Sourav is not there, KKR will lose the sentimental attachment that people of Bengal share with the team.

"I doubt whether they will be able to attract good crowds during IPL matches if Sourav is not there. KKR will face a lot of problems in his absence," said the veteran who was instrumental in Ganguly's comeback in the Indian team in 1996.

Similarly another former captain and staunch Ganguly backer Gopal Bose, has said that Ganguly is to Bengal what like Sachin is for Mumbai.

"We cannot imagine the Mumbai team in the absence of Sachin.

Similarly Sourav is the face of Kolkata. He is the biggest sporting icon Bengal has ever produced. People are emotionally attached with him. The team management can conduct polls and more then 90 percent people will vote for Sourav," he said.

"He played well in the previous season and the most amazing part was his fielding."

Banerjee has said that Ganguly does not need to prove anything to anybody. He also hoped that KKR can reach the semi-final in the coming season under his captaincy.

"It was under Sourav's captaincy that we saw a transformation in the Indian team. He has brought the aggression in Indian team as well as in KKR. As far as past failures are concerned there were several other reasons for that. I hope that the team will reach the semi-final next season," he said.

Bose also blamed the team management's wrong decisions for past failures.

"Coach Buchanan (John) was the major factor. Players were feeling insecure during his tenure. Not having the desired start was the biggest problem for KKR. Team has improved a lot in the last season," he said.

Read More

IPL 4: KKR cannot afford to drop Ganguly

New Delhi: When reports about the Kolkata Knight Riders deciding against retaining skipper Sourav Ganguly for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League first surfaced, the initial reaction was that of disbelief.

It was impossible to imagine a 'home' team taking the field at the Eden Gardens without the 'Prince of Kolkata' being a part of it. KKR, fans said, will lose its following and the so-called off-field success of the team will be dented like never before.

Agreed that the Knights have not touched the heights of glory in the last three seasons, but to blame the skipper for that is not just being unjust, but even being foolhardy. A closer look, however, at the decision to put Ganguly back in the players pool looks like a stroke of genius from the Kolkata team management.

If they had decided to retain Ganguly, the franchise would have had to pay him Rs 1.84 crore. Instead, they can now buy him afresh for a much lower price as Ganguly has been put in Grade C by the BCCI that fixes his base price at Rs 92 lakh.

Ganguly's performance in the IPL has been pretty decent, both with the bat and the ball. The team though hasn't clicked together as a unit and it is more to do with the team selection and availability of the players than just big names.

And with the initial three-year contract for the players out of the way, this is the best time to overhaul the team while keeping the costs low.

The only other team that may seriously consider giving Kolkata a challenge while bidding for Ganguly is the Sahara Pune Warriors.

The former Indian skipper relishes a challenge and still has the ability to turn it around everytime a question mark is put against his name.

Also, Sahara may want to cash in on the charisma of Ganguly, who has even started getting crucial match fitness by playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.

Ganguly too has said that he does not mind going under the hammer.

"My first choice will obviously be KKR, but yes, if the situation demands, I am open to playing for some other team. The bottomline is, I want to play the IPL because I think I have cricket left in me," he said.

Read More

World Cup will be a different ball game: Ganguly

The new look Team India under Gautam Gambhir might be on a roll at the moment but it would be a different experience at the World Cup and a series in South Africa would be an ideal preparation, former India captain Sourav Ganguly said on Sunday. The ace left-hander also reitirated that his first preference will be Kolkata Knight Riders although the Ganguly would be up for auctions.

Talking to PTI on the sidelines of a function in Kolkata, Ganguly said, "It was nice to see India winning under new captain (Gautam) Gambhir. But World Cup will be a different experience. Every win is good for the team (to get the momentum)."

"We have a very tough away series in South Africa. It will give them an ideal preparation ahead of the big tournament (here in February-April next year). Indians are used to the playing condition here so I believe South Africa series will be very crucial. It's easier to come back from a tough tournament. I hope they do well in South Africa."

On the speculation that he might not be retained by the SRK-owned franchisee, Ganguly said: "I've played three years with them so obviously there is an attachment. KKR will be my first preference."

"But it does not depend on me. It's up to the franchisee, let's see what happens at the auction. I'm yet to have a word with Shah Rukh Khan on this.

"If I'm not retained then there is always an option of getting picked by any other team at the auction. But I am keen on playing the tournament... I believe there is some cricket left in me."

The Bombay High Court had earlier extended the date for IPL teams to submit list of retained players from December 6 to December 8.

Each IPL franchisee can sign up four players from its earlier season's squad.

Following his tremendous form in the ongoing series against New Zealand, Virat Kohli might have been seen as a future Indian captain but Ganguly said the Delhi youngster has to wait.

"It's too early to say that he can be a future Indian captain. With great cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir ahead of him, he has to wait."

Read More