'Welcome back, mate,' says Chappell

India in South Africa, 2006-07

Ganguly joins team in South Africa

Dileep Premachandran in Potchefstroom

December 5, 2006

Sourav Ganguly has joined the Indian team ahead of the practice match at Potchefstroom beginning December 7 AFP

At 10 past eleven on a hot and dry day at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom, a Mercedes minivan pulls up a few feet away from the outdoor nets. As soon as its doors open, the TV crews make a beeline there from their vantage points. Sourav Ganguly gets out quietly, picks up his kitbag from the boot, and wheels in into the practice area.

Initially no one sees him, all of them occupied midway through a session. Then, as he sets his kitbag down and set about opening it, Munaf Patel turns around. He stares wide-eyed for a minute and then extends his hand. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had been chatting to Munaf just moments earlier, follows suit. 'You drove straight from the airport?" asks Dhoni. Ganguly just nods, and half smiles.

Ian Frazer, who had just been lobbing balls to Rahul Dravid in a net kept apart from the others, is next to see him. He too goes up and shakes his hand, sharing a few words. Greg Chappell is having a quiet word in Gautam Gambhir's ear when he spots Ganguly. Ganguly crosses the few metres that separate them and they shake hands. "Welcome back, mate," says Chappell. "Glad you made it."

Dravid has just finished a small session with Frazer and Greg King throwing them down when he wanders across to meet the man he replaced as India's captain. They chat for a couple of minutes, both men gazing in the direction of the batsmen and bowlers engaged in the nets.

Soon after, Ganguly breaks away to see to his equipment. The SG thigh pad comes out, and he puts his bat, gloves, pads and helmet on the grass in readiness for what will be his first experience of South African pitches in nearly four years. As he pads up, Irfan Pathan spots him and waves. Ganguly waves back. After nearly a year away from the limelight, he's back. Only time will tell if he still belongs.

Way to go Ganguly! Even though Chappell threw Ganguly out, he still had a curtesy to shake hands wid him!👏 👏 👏

Good Luck Ganguly!!! Its time to reply/show to the world that UR D BEST!!!👍🏼

Match starts 2mo (7th december)😊

Take Care

Anoli

xxx

😆 Useless coach 🤢
GO Dada 👏

I am not a Sourav fan. He has some problem, bit arrogant. May be he was destined to pay for his failed performance as a player and some politics he played. At the same time feel he should not have been sacked as a captain. His record as a captain is much better than many Indian captains. Though we lost big-time in 2003 WC final against Australia, at least our team made it to the finals. If we could keep corrupted good-for nothing(later performances)Azharuddin for so long as a captain for 3 consecutive World Cups, why sack Sourav from captaincy after a not-so bad performance by the team in the last World Cup ? We truly had some memorable wins under Sourav's captaincy.

"Welcome back, mate," says Chappell
Oh well...
Once again problem lies with Coach and his mentality earlier to bring younger players for future and ignore once that were in their 30s. Ex chief selector Kiran More also agreed with that. Now we've tried from quite a few young lads who were excellent on Indian flat tracks while playing against below average domestic bowlers. Chappell thought he would be able to train that bunch to play against moving balls on bouncy tracks. But apparently he couldn't and now we are back again with experienced lot with VVS and Ganguly. Chappell also thinks that there is no need for a specialist bowling coach but now hopefully he would realize after debacle of bowlers in a Champions Trophy recently that that's the first thing Team India needs. We lost a golden opportunity to hire Waqar but till its not too late.

All the best to Saurav and Indian Cricket team. I hope they show their talent this time.

Originally posted by: Swar_Raj

😆 Useless coach 🤢
GO Dada 👏

Dada? U on abt Ganguly??😕 😉

I hate d Coach! He is indeed useless!

Take Care

Anoli

xxx

Originally posted by: abhijit shukla

Let Dada prove himself first. After last year he mght not have ramined the Ganguly that he once was. We are rooting for him but it is still upto him to go out there and play.
As such, ODI was a better format for him than the tests anyway. Let us see how the next two weeks unfold.

I too prefer him in ODI'S!!!😉

Do u think that he wont b able to play good? (Sorry, bt das wt i feel like after readin ur comments)😕

Take Care

Anoli

xxx

Originally posted by: Pradarshak

I am not a Sourav fan. He has some problem, bit arrogant. May be he was destined to pay for his failed performance as a player and some politics he played. At the same time feel he should not have been sacked as a captain. His record as a captain is much better than many Indian captains. Though we lost big-time in 2003 WC final against Australia, at least our team made it to the finals. If we could keep corrupted good-for nothing(later performances)Azharuddin for so long as a captain for 3 consecutive World Cups, why sack Sourav from captaincy after a not-so bad performance by the team in the last World Cup ? We truly had some memorable wins under Sourav's captaincy.

Ganguly aint Arrogant! I go wiv u in all d lines apart from d first 2!!! Saurav is so innocent!!!😛 But i dont think dat ICC wil give him back his captionship! I just hope he plays well good & Give smile to the all Indian team!!!😃

Take Care

Anoli

xxx

Saurav ofcourse does have problem with fast pitches, so not sure what he can do after a break of year. His carrier might end after thsi amtch as all are having high hopes from him. How much he will be able to prove?? God knows..but yes good luck to him
We surely need to change the Coach though

Originally posted by: Swar_Raj

Saurav ofcourse does have problem with fast pitches, so not sure what he can do after a break of year. His carrier might end after thsi amtch as all are having high hopes from him. How much he will be able to prove?? God knows..but yes good luck to him
We surely need to change the Coach though

No.. please dont think Negative!!! Be positive!😊

My fingers r croosed & i m 100% sure even his Kolkata fan's fingers r crossed!😉 I like Ganguly, Dravid & Kumble from d all indian team! These 3 r my fav players!😃

If Ganguly plays Good den i m sure he wil try his best to throw chappell out! I just cant wait 4 chappell to go out!

No offense!

Take Care

Anoli

xxx