Hopeful of Team India's success against New Zealand, says Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said that he is very much hopeful of success against New Zealand in the five ODI and two-Test series, after a tough tour in South Africa, starting January 19th.

“I’m very very hopeful of success against New Zealand. We’ve just come back from a tough tour of South Africa, losing both Test and ODI series. We have seen India doing well after a difficult tour. But I’m hopeful of Team India doing well in New Zealand,” Ganguly told a Bengali news channel.

“They don’t have (Dale) Steyn or (Morne) Morkel in their side. New Zealand are an inferior side in comparison to South Africa. If their coaches are intelligent enough, they would have out and out greentops.”

Ganguly also had faith in Bengal skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Ashok Dinda making a comeback to the Indian side. “If Bengal make the final, Shukla’s performance will be counted by the national selectors, Dinda will also make a strong case for himself for a comeback,” Ganguly said.

“He (Binny) had been a stand out performer for the Rajasthan Royals and in their qualification into the (IPL 6) final. He has also been retained by Rajasthan Royals,” Ganguly said about Stuart Binny’s selection as an all-rounder in the national side.

“But if you look at Bengal, our boys not even get a chance to play in IPL regularly…

“On form, Shami is the best Indian pacer at the moment, but it’s unfortunate that he’s not retained by the state franchise (KKR).

“These are the things national selectors take into account. Selectors are bound to give importance to a big tournament like IPL, that’s the way it is, that’s the system,” Ganguly pointed out.

On Bengal’s qualification for the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time, after 2006-2007, he said: “They have all performed under pressure, right from skipper Shukla. Dinda is still being overlooked by the national selectors…

“All these players have stood under pressure. For four years, they have fought relegation. I’ve seen it very closely. I know how tough it is.

“On paper, Bengal have beaten stronger teams to make the semis than Maharashtra who have come from lower rung group C. But any team at this stage is strong, they (Bengal) have to play all five days of good cricket to be in the final,” he said.