Ganguly backs Mongia to pull his weight

Ganguly has saved his own skin with that century against Kenya. Now, it seems, he must save Dinesh Mongia’s. The Punjab batsman has been out of the runs and is seen as the weak link in a powerful batting line-up; tomorrow’s match against Sri Lanka will be the perfect opportunity to silence his critics.

Mongia’s last great knock was almost a year ago, to the date — March 19, 2002 — against Zimbabwe at Guwahati, when his unbeaten 159 won India the series (and won him the man of the series award).

Since then, though, he’s been singularly unimpressive and his inclusion in the World Cup squad, at the expense of VVS Laxman, was a matter of some debate. It was explained at the time that Mongia scored over Laxman in his fielding, yet it hasn’t been very good in this tournament — and way below par against Kenya.

Seeing his batting form dip — 99 runs in four innings in this tournament — the skipper made him the first option among the part-time bowlers. Without much effect, except to deny Tendulkar a turn with the ball.

Yet Ganguly has refused to consider dropping Mongia. Though he said today that tomorrow’s final playing XI would only be decided just before the match, he is understood to have made it clear that Mongia stays. ‘‘I have seen the potential in him and I think he will justify that,’’ he says.

There’s a ring of deja vu to that. If there is one captaincy skill Ganguly has mastered, it is that of going by his instinct on backing players who appear unredeemable.

Whether Harbhajan during the series against Australia, Yuvraj during his early temperamental days, the promotion of Sehwag in the order and the persistence with Agarkar in the face of apparent logic.

Indeed, if Mongia gets the axe, it is likely that Agarkar will be drafted in, over Bangar. Amid glorious uncertainties of cricket, the one certainty is that the captain is accountable for the team’s performance.

With India on a roll, the team may be able to ride Mongia’s non-performance. But as crunch games loom ahead, Ganguly will be aware that he’ll have to pay the price for any passengers.