Date:18/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/18/stories/2008041856321900.htm

Sport

IPL will witness intense encounters, says Ganguly

Principal Correspondent

Bangalore: Sourav Ganguly said that the DLF-Indian Premier League would witness intense matches as players were wary of their reputations.

“The bigger the player, bigger the reputation and bigger the responsibility. We are all playing to win and once the cricket starts, the little things like entertainment on the sidelines will reduce,” the Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper said in a press conference here on Thursday evening.

Queried on team-bonding in the backdrop of diverse players, Ganguly said: “The players are all very keen. As for handling players, it is not a difficult thing. We have Ricky Ponting, who is one of the best players in the World and he knows that the team has spent money on him, knows that he has to do well for the team, I see no problems on that front.”

Ultimate yardstick

Ganguly however stressed that Test cricket was the ultimate yardstick for cricketers. “For players Tests are very important and one-dayers and Twenty20 is important for the game of cricket to go forward. If you ask me to appraise Ishant Sharma 10 years down the line, I would look at how he bowled in the Tests. That’s the way it goes,” Ganguly said. The Kolkata skipper also said that all teams in the fray were competitive.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata outfit’s coach John Buchanan emphasised the need to carve space for Twenty20 and the franchise-format. “I see Tests thriving in the future too and cricket is in a good state now. It has three good formats in Tests, ODIs and Twenty20. I hope the ICC and the member Countries nurture this important tournament – IPL,” Buchanan said.

Open mind

Earlier, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Rahul Dravid said that he was approaching the tournament with an “open mind.”

“We have a good team though there are some people who call us a bunch of veterans cheered by young girls! I wish the crowd comes in good numbers and clad in red, our team colour,” he said.

Chanderpaul not to play

Dravid also said that Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who would arrive on Friday afternoon, was not part of the team for the opening match. Ganguly too mentioned that Chris Gayle was a doubtful starter in his team.