Gambhir can't be compared to MSD as t20 captain: Ganguly

Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) Calling M.S. Dhoni as India’s best twenty20 skipper, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Sunday said the time has not come to compare Gautam Gambhir to the Ranchi boy.

“Overall Dhoni is the best t20 captain now. Dhoni’s record in this format is fantastic. He has led the country to the world t20 title. He has made Chennai Super Kings champions twice as captain. And Gambhir is only captain of this year’s IPL winning team (Kolkata Knight Riders). So I feel the time has not come to compare Gambhir with Dhoni as far as captaincy is concerned,” Ganguly said.

The prince of Kolkata said Gambhir looked under pressure both as captain and player in the IPL final Sunday.

“I don’t think his captaincy today was as good as in other games. He seemed under pressure as captain and when he went out to bat. I did not like his body language,” Ganguly told Bengali news channel Star Ananda.

Ganguly said he found it surprising that Dhoni did not use any left arm bowler, when Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis — both right-handed — went on plundering runs.

Replying to the Kings’ 190/3, KKR lost skipper Gautam Gambhir early, but Bisla (89) played a cracker of an innings and added 136 with Kallis for the second wicket that set the stage for the team’s win.

“When two right handers were playing so well, Dhoni continued with offies. I found it surprising. He should have used a left arm bowler,” he said.

Ganguly also questioned Dhoni’s field setting, saying Chennai conceded too many easy singles.

Asked whether after his success as KKR captain, Gambhir stood a chance to replace Dhoni as Test captain, Ganguly said: “As a Test player, I feel there is a question mark over Dhoni. But Gambhir has also not done well in the last eight Tests.”

“But obviously, Dhoni’s case is different. He is the incumbent captain. So he has got the backing. But if Dhoni does not play well, this is a possibility, but not in the near future,” he added.