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Sunday, 24 March 2013

Sachin Tendulkar should play as long as he wants to: Ganguly

Sunday, March 24, 2013 Arun

KOLKATA: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said Sachin Tendulkar should play as long as he wants.

There is a buzz that Tendulkar, who will turn 40 next month, may have played his last on Indian soil when he batted at Kotla as there's not a Test scheduled in the country for the next one year.

"Only time will say (about Tendulkar's retirement). He can play as long as he wants, be it South Africa, New Zealand or wherever," Ganguly said on Sunday.

Asked about Tendulkar's lean patch, Ganguly pointed out: "A win is always a team effort. We should not forget his contribution in the first Test in Chennai -- his gritty 81 really come to the team's rescue with India two down".

Ganguly further said Cheteshwar Pujara should have been awarded the man of the match which went to Ravindra Jadeja for his 5/58.

"He has made 134 runs -- 52 and 82 not out -- on a difficult spinning track. For me, the man of the match is Pujara," Ganguly told a regional TV channel.

India won the fourth and last Test by six wickets to clinch the four-match series with a historic 4-0 victory and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"Of course, the whitewash is a big thing. The way India have performed is really commendable. I'm not surprised the way Aussies went down. They have been doing badly for last few years," Ganguly said.

The former cricketer said Indian youngsters should be given at least two years time as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a crucial period ahead.

"This team is in a process of rebuilding. We have to give time to judge them. I'm sure Dhoni will be around till World Cup 2015. The next 17-18 months is very important as he has to build this side."

Ganguly also believed that it's not yet over for senior opener Virender Sehwag who was dropped after the second Test.

"We all know his abilities. He is one of the greats. I think he will get opportunity for the South African tour. The selectors are trying out (Ajinkya) Rahane for a middle order slot. May be he will give the experienced opening batsman option in South Africa," he said.

On the Aussies batting, Ganguly said: "Peter Siddle (with two half-centuries in the Kotla Test) showed that batting is not impossible even if it's difficult.

"They were not playing according to merit of the ball. If you don't back your cricket ability it's very difficult."

© PTI

Pics : Sourav Ganguly Launches One Gateway Techno Services in Hyderabad

Saturday, March 23, 2013 Arun

For someone who faced the fury of the best of bowlers across the world with ease, Sourav Ganguly had to play the waiting game when he came to the city on Friday as the brand ambassador of One Gateway Techno Services (OGTS), which is planning to offer ‘identity management’ services.

Exclusive Pics from the Event :

Not just at home, Sourav Ganguly wants India to do well overseas

Friday, March 22, 2013 Arun

Having re-established their hegemony in the familiar environs of home with three successive Test wins against Australia, India should strive to once again become a force to reckon with in the alien conditions abroad, feels former captain Sourav Ganguly.

Observing that teams like England and South Africa perform well both at home and abroad, Ganguly hoped India would also become strong enough in all conditions.

"England does well home and away. England won here when they came to India. South Africa does well. Sri Lanka does well. So, we will have to wait and see. It is too early to say. We want India to do well (at) home and away. That's very important for us.

"That's what we have done in the last 10 and 11 years. Hopefully, we will become a team which is once again doing well home and overseas. As I said, it is a young team which needed a little bit of time. But that's what we want our team to be," Ganguly said.

Ganguly said a 4-0 whitewash of Australia in the ongoing Test series will be a "good thing" for the Indian cricket team after suffering a similar fate Down Under last year.

"See... don't expect in cricket. Hopefully, they do it. It will be a good thing for them. Because when they went to Australia last year, it was 0-4 and winning 4-0 here would be a satisfying thing for the team," Ganguly said.

"Having said that, they will have to play well. It is not an easy wicket at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Hopefully, India will play well as they have done in the last three Test matches," he told reporters at a commercial event.

India lead the series 3-0 after convincing wins in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mohali.Asked whether India would be able to continue their successful run, he said the present side comprised young players who need time to settle down.
"Hopefully... We want Indian cricket to reach that stage. They played well in the series. They also had a tough time in the last 20¿22 months. We also have to understand that it is a young team, lot of young players are coming in, it is a change which is happening.

"Our own great V V S Laxman has retired, Rahul Dravid is gone. People like us, Kumble have finished. It is a new team, new players. You will have to allow them to settle down and hopefully, we will get back to Indian cricket as it was a couple of years ago," he said.

Asked how he would rate the teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts next month, he said T20 cricket is quite unpredictable as different teams have sprang up surprises in the past.

"It is always fun. Playing the IPL and watching it. It is difficult to say who will win in T20. Every year has thrown up a new champion. It's Knight Riders last year. You got a new side here (Hyderabad), the Sunrisers, I wish them luck.
They have a good side. Unfortunately, their star Shikhar Dhawan is injured. Hopefully, he recovers. You never know in IPL, who will spring a surprise. Hopefully, we have a good tournament as it has been for the past five years," he said.

© PTI

Sourav Ganguly to Lead Captains Roadshow at IPL 6 Opening Ceremony

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Arun

Rajeev Shukla's INTERVIEW to Times of India:

What is the line-up for the opening ceremony?

The theme is No. 6 because this is IPL's sixth edition. We're planning to organise a roadshow before the opening ceremony in Kolkata. We are trying to rope in Sourav Ganguly, who could lead all the team captains during the roadshow. We're in touch with the state government and hopefully, we'll get permission for the event. There are six elements in the opening ceremony. The first segment will be Indianness, then the cheerleaders, international artists, Bollywood show, captains emphasizing on the spirit of cricket and then the magic of cricket.

©TOI

Pics : Sourav Ganguly with Dravid, Lara & Ranatunga at India Today Conclave - 2013

Saturday, March 16, 2013 Arun

The India Today Conclave 2013 witnessed an Outstanding panel discussion on " The changing face of world cricket " with the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara & Arjuna Ranatunga as the panel Guests.

Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Arjuna Ranatunga, Brian Lara. Need we say anything more. Here are some Exclusive Pics. Watch the Panel Discussion Here - *Captains Speak* Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara & Ranatunga at India Today Conclave - 2013