Ganguly still has much to offer to India: Viswanath

Agencies Posted: Jul 07, 2008 at 1814 hrs
Kolkata, July 7: On the eve of Sourav Ganguly’s 36th birthday which coincides with team selection for upcoming Sri Lanka tour, former chief selector Gundappa Rangnath Viswanath made case for the ex-India captain, saying he still had much to deliver to the national team.

Viswanath had spotted talent in a 17-year-old Ganguly making a debut against Delhi in the 1989-90 Ranji final at the Eden. And it was former cricketer Sambaran Banerjee, who had included the left-hander as a “bowling allrounder”.

The rest, as they say, is history.

It is not an issue if Ganguly does not figure in the Board’s one-day scheme of things, but Viswanth and Banerjee feel that Ganguly still has the indomitable fighting spirit.

Refusing to comment on the seniors v youngsters issue, a day after India’s humiliating 100-run loss against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in Karachi yesterday, former India captain Viswanath said, “He had a tremendous career and in fact he is still going strong. He still has a lot to offer to the Indian cricket. He already has showed us how strong he’s mentally with the famous comeback during the 2006-07 South Africa tour."