‘I’ve a record as good as anyone and I play when required’

Ganguly has already struck two hundreds in the competition and amassed 327 runs from eight games at an average of 54.50, second only to Tendulkar’s 571 from eight games at an average of 71.37.

‘‘I believe if you are good, you will always perform. If you have quality in you, it can never be suppressed,’’ said Ganguly whose career is dotted with instances of fighting against the odds.

‘‘I am playing well when it is required and that is the important thing. I have never wanted to prove to anybody. Only to myself whether I am good enough to do things. That has been the key to my whole approach,’’ he said in an exclusive interview here.

The Indians invited the wrath of fans back home for their tame start to the World Cup, characterised by a crushing loss to Australia, which even had the media baying for the blood of Ganguly and his men.

Ganguly explains, ‘‘it was at the start of the tournament and too early for us to put our heads down. It is exactly what has happened. Half of the team members were not worried. Half of them do not know what goes around (in the media).’’

Since then the Indians have prevailed against all-comers and well as batsmen have done, Ganguly believes the fast bowlers have played no less a role.

‘‘When we got to 250 against Zimbabwe, we defended. We defended a 250 against England. I think our seam bowlers have bowled superbly. Both Zaheer and Srinath have an economy rate of below four runs per over. So is Harbhajan and Anil Kumble and even Ashish Nehra is only marginally over,’’ the captain said.

Ganguly’s team allows individuals to express their opinions and he says it is important to involve everyone for the team’s good. ‘‘I encourage them and they do express themselves. It is the sign of a healthy team. No way a team can survive on one person. It is my job to encourage people to speak. At the end of the day it is all eleven who will win you a game,’’ he said.

Ganguly has also sacrificed his own interest at times in order to help the team do better. ‘‘I am coming at number three but it is no different really from the number one spot.”

Irrespective of what happens in the next 10 days, Ganguly predicts a lot of careers would blossom once the 2003 World Cup is over. ‘‘It is a young side and once the World Cup finishes, I guess a lot of careers would blossom,’’ said Ganguly, now himself at the peak as the leader of a resurgent team. (PTI)