Ganguly always gets what he wants

Playing a Ranji Trophy match after a long time, Saurav Ganguly wants very much to be part of a winning side. And he is pressing to have the team - and the pitch - of his choice when Bengal plays Delhi in the Ranji Trophy Super League at the Eden Gardens from February 16.

The 28-year-old Bengal captain was not prepared to take Delhi lightly. ``How can you under-rate a side which has the likes of Ajay Sharma and Nikhil Chopra,'' he said after a net session on Monday evening.

For Bengal, the main problem is to get the correct combination. A couple of selectors want Debang Gandhi to open, so that an extra bowler can be played. On the other hand, two selectors want to play it safe and have seven batsmen in the side. The chairman of the selectors Ashok Malhotra however, has left the final decision to Ganguly. "You will have to give him what he wants. So if he wants to play an extra bowler, we will not have any objections."

The Bengal squad for the match has not been finalised simply because Ganguly has wanted two other pace bowlers in the eleven. They are Sumit Panda and the former India medium pacer Subrata Bannerjee. "I want to play this match with four pace bowlers. Along with these two, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and myself will share the new ball. So I want plenty of grass on the wicket. Moreover, it also helps the ball to come on to the bat."

The pitch is still green with a fair sprinkling of grass. However, it is soft and the ball will have a tendency to stop and come. That is another reason why Ganguly has asked the curator to roll the wicket continuously so that it becomes hard and firm.

At a team meeting, immediately after the practise session, Ganguly told his team mates, "I'm playing a Ranji Trophy match after a long time. So I would like to finish on the winning side and I look forward to all of you in delivering the goods." Later at a tea party hosted by CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya, Ganguly echoed the same words.

The selectors however are in a dilemma regarding Subrata Bannerjee. They have no objections in including Panda, but are a little apprehensive about the chances of Bannerjee's success. Incidentally, these two pacemen have not found a place in the 14 announced for the match. But then Ganguly always gets what he wants.