Date:14/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021456492000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Dravid is Bangalore skipper

Bangalore: Rahul Dravid is all set to lead Bangalore in the Indian Premier League which will have a gala launch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on April 18.

The Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore team’s Chief Executive Officer-designate, Charu Sharma, confirmed that Dravid will lead the side. “Yes, I have spoken to him and he will lead the side. Everyone looks up to him and an iconic player has to lead the side.”

Charu admitted that the wish-list for overseas players will be the same for all teams. “If you ask me our wish-list for players, it might be the same as what Sourav Ganguly might have said in Kolkata about the team he wants. Since this is a Twenty20 format and you need those big-moment players, I would love to have all the Australians on board.

“I would love to have some quick bowlers, some clever bowlers. It is an open auction and if we don’t play our options well, we might end up with nothing. We have to be careful about whom we bid for and also keep the team composition in mind.

Indian Test skipper Anil Kumble and Robin Uthappa are the other prominent players from Karnataka who are on the Bangalore team’s radar.