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Different ‘strokes’
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Dada might have lost captaincy and also his place in the ODI squad but his popularity remains the same
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Prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly might have lost captaincy and also his place in the ODI squad but his popularity remains the same and people would like to hear what he says.
With Ganguly around, the questions are naturally about cricket and he answered them all. It was not a difficult target but Ajantha Mendis took the game away from India, he said on India losing yet another final, in the Asia Cup in Karachi.
“It happens. Somehow we are on the wrong side most of the time. Losing finals is definitely a worry. Dhoni, his one-day boys and coach must sit together and discuss”, said Ganguly.
The ensuing tour to Sri Lanka is going to be a keenly-contest one and tough assignment for India as it has to face very good spinners like Muralitharan and Mendis. Sri Lanka is always strong on his home pitch, he pointed out.
However, India is outstanding in Tests and is ranked No. 2 in world, Ganguly said. It also has good bowlers like Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, R.P. Singh and others, he added.
The former Indian captain asserted that the Test format is the best, “in the past, at present and in future”. It is always the best form of cricket and performances in Tests will be remembered forever and it is the benchmark of the game. “The Test cricket, ODIs and twenty20 will survive on their own”.
The twenty20 format is bringing in good crowds as people are enjoying a game of three to four hours duration with 4s and 6s being blasted frequently. “Then there is added attraction like Sharukh Khan, Preity Zinta and others. It’s cricket as well as entertainment”, he said. Ganguly said he had gone to England to attend on his father who has undergone a surgery but did not discuss details of a twenty20 format tourney in England with English players. Ganguly would not like to comment on why he was not selected for the ODI squad in spite of his good performance in the IPL twenty20 tournament. “It was selectors’ decision”, he said.
G. NARASIMHA RAO
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