Ganguly unlikely to play Mohali Test

Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to play in the second Test against New Zealand at Mohali, which begins on October 16. The groin infection which had bothered Ganguly during the Ahmedabad Test spread to his left thigh, and he had to undergo an operation at a local hospital to remove a resultant abscess. He has been advised to recuperate for at least 24 hours, and his participation in the Test is in doubt.

Ganguly had complained of a pain on his left thigh at the afternoon nets, and was promptly taken to the Fortis Hospital near the Punjab Cricket Association. He spent nearly two hours there, and was operated upon under anaesthesia.

Ganguly's withdrawal would mean that Rahul Dravid will captain India in a Test for the first time. Dravid led India in the unofficial Test at Centurion during India's tour of South Africa in 2001-02, which India lost. He also skippered India in four one-day internationals, of which India won three.

More pertinently for the local Chandigarh crowd, Yuvraj Singh would then make his Test debut in his hometown. The circumstances of the debut would be somewhat ironic, as Ganguly had famously championed Yuvraj Singh and had fought for his comeback into the national one-day side after the selectors seemed to have given up on him.