Sourav Ganguly seldom offers deadpan defence to questions and once Delhi Capitals nominated him to do the pre-match press conference ahead of their game against Mumbai Indians, the media room at Wankhede had to be full. The former India captain, who is now DC’s director of cricket, didn’t disappoint.
Questions on Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya facing boos and abuses from the fans had to come along the way. And Ganguly was prompt in his reply. “I don’t think they should boo Hardik Pandya,” he said.
“It’s not correct. The franchise has appointed him as captain. That’s what happens in sport, whether you captain India, whether you captain a state or whether you captain a franchise, you are appointed as captain. So he is appointed captain now.”
‘Rohitians’ begrudge Pandya, for the new MI captain has replaced their idol. Although the franchise brought in the change by keeping Rohit Sharma in the loop, fanatics have very little time for logic.
“Obviously, Rohit Sharma is a different class. His performance for his franchise, his performance for India have been at a different level as a captain and a player. But then, it’s not Hardik’s fault that he has been appointed captain. I think that is what we need to understand,” said Ganguly.
Questions were asked about Rishabh Pant making India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pant has scored back-to-back half-centuries in the IPL after coming back from a 14-month lay-off following a car accident. And Ganguly sounded hopeful.
“Let a few more matches go. He is doing very well. As you all must have seen, the way he is ‘keeping and batting. His body has held up well and his form is excellent. But let another week go and then I will be able to answer that question.”
Kuldeep Yadav is currently sidelined with a groin niggle and Ganguly said the chinaman bowler would undergo a fitness test. “He will undergo a fitness test today. He has a bit of groin stiffness (and) that’s why he missed the last two games. By the end of the day, we will get to know if he is available tomorrow (against MI).”
DC were hammered in their last game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Ganguly agreed that improvement is needed in tomorrow’s game, against a very good MI side that has got the Suryakumar Yadav boost. DC, though, have faced a setback, as Mitchell Marsh is injured.