Battle lines drawn8230; again

He8217;s been in the spotlight ever since the Indian Premier League got underway, and Shane Warne today ensured he8217;d stay...

He8217;s been in the spotlight ever since the Indian Premier League got underway, and Shane Warne today ensured he8217;d stay on top of the Kolkata team8217;s mind 8212; especially skipper Sourav Ganguly8217;s. The Rajasthan Royals take on Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow, and Warne set the tone for the contest by bringing up his spat with Ganguly the last time the teams met.

8220;What I had said at that time on the matter was completely factual. And I still stand by the same facts,8221; the Royals skipper and coach told reporters here on the eve of the IPL match at Eden Gardens, when asked if he regretted being dragged into a controversial war of words with Ganguly following the last match at Jaipur. While Royals are sitting pretty on top of the IPL table with eight wins in 10 games, the Knight Riders are languishing at sixth spot with just five wins. Kolkata desperately need a victory in this game, and the rest of their matches, to stay in contention for a semi-final spot and the stakes are much higher than they were when the teams first met.

The big fight

Warne had dropped a bombshell after that game, in Jaipur, accusing the Knight Riders captain of violating the spirit of the game by delaying his own entry onto the ground and then by questioning a fielder8217;s word on a debatable catch.

Warne had expressed his displeasure then, criticising Ganguly for making the Royals wait and then doubting Graeme Smith8217;s claim for a controversial catch when Ganguly was on 49. After the match, Warne had said: 8220;I was disappointed. While batting, we waited for five minutes under the hot sun and they Knight Riders were not anywhere to be seen. While fielding, we just waited for Sourav to come out. When we were out on the field, we all stood there waiting. I don8217;t know what he was doing. He wanted extra time.8221; In reply to Warne8217;s stinger, the Knight Riders skipper had counter-attacked, questioning the legendary leggie8217;s right to question other cricketers8217; ethics. 8220;Look who8217;s talking,8221; Ganguly had said. 8220;If you look at his career and the incidents he got in, it will give you the answer,8221; he had said.

Mindgames, says John

Kolkata coach John Buchanan 8212; who8217;s worked with Warne for years 8212; reckons it8217;s the usual pressure tactics from the leg-spinner. 8220;These words from Warne aren8217;t surprising. It8217;s the usual strategy and tactics, I know him very well. So I shouldn8217;t be commenting and playing to it,8221; Buchanan said.

Kolkata vs Jaipur: 8 pm