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Kolkata: Former Indian skipper is having a great run in the Indian Premier League, winning two man of the match awards and more importantly helping Kolkata Knight Riders score crucial wins. He also spelled out the team's plans and excerpts...
Gulf News: It is said that unless your backs are behind the wall, we cannot the best from the team. Is it true?
Sourav Ganguly: Absolutely not. I know how much time the owner of the team had spent to make this a good one. We too are trying to do the same. So, when we had reached a point of no return almost, each of us was eager to come back. These two wins had allowed us to be in a better position. We really needed it.
So, will you continue to play at No 3 position?
Twenty 20 is a format of adjustments. You have to adjust to the situations. With Brad Hodge, too, going back for national duties, we are thinking about options for the remaining matches, too.
What about Tatenda Taibu?
He is fit and ready to go. He is like elastic, he can bend as much as you wish for. And his batting is a revelation. He is an important part of our team. So are the juniors from Bengal, Wriddhi, Dinda, Laxmi, Debabrata. I believe in their abilities. They are getting the much-needed opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.
You bowled really well to grab the man of the match award against Rahul Dravid's team. Yet, you did not bowl the last over. Why?
I know my limitations. Ishant is a far better bowler than me and in such a situation, you need your best bowler to bowl the last over? I had bowled well in the first three, giving away only seven runs, but you cannot guarantee that the fourth over would not go for 20 runs.
After having adjudged man of the match for two consecutive matches, do you feel that you have now adjusted to the needs of the Twenty 20 game?
You need time to adjust to anything new. How quickly you can do so is the question. We are happy that as a team we are doing well. Personally for me, it were another two performances, nothing else.
But you had played one of the best innings of the IPL...
I am happy that my innings has contributed a lot to the team's winning cause. We needed to win the match to be in contention of reaching the last four and we did so.
Yet, your bowlers did not bowl that well even with 204 runs to defend.
I think we will have the best bowling line-up once Shoaib Akhtar comes in to the team. I am not losing sleep over it.
What did Shah Rukh Khan, the owner say?
He sends an SMS almost everyday, after every match, any time. He is such a busy person, but his involvement is exemplary.
Standings
Team P W L Pts NetRR
Royals 9 7 2 14 +.592
Super Kings 9 6 3 12 +0.104
Kings XI 8 5 3 10 +0.272
Daredevils 8 4 4 8 +0.545
Knight Riders 7 3 4 6 +0.461
Indians 7 3 4 6 -0.455
Chargers 8 2 6 4 -0.240
Challengers 8 2 6 4 -1.309.
Positions after Sunday's matches
Today's match:
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils, in Kolkata.
Do you think his recent performances in the IPL prove that Ganguly still has a lot to give to the cricketing world? Will this enable the former India skipper to find his way back into the one-day side?
Your comments
Absolutely yes, he is a person who can make things right with his potential of the game and he is an outstanding player, and his timely efforts will boost the team in reaching the top position.
Smrasheed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2008, 11:57
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