Sourav’s another man in squad

Forget if the Indian team management had planned to show Ganguly his place, but it seemed the former Indian skipper had got the message before he landed here from Kolkata — a dateline that has lost it’s significance after the just-concluded BCCI elections.

As Ganguly walked out at the Chepauk today the urgency in his steps was missing. He didn’t have to dissect the pitch or talk to the curator. There were others who were supposed to do it. He casually started his jog along with the other mere players. Dravid soon joined. They exchanged glances and words to trigger the cameras wanting to capture those 1,000 unsaid words in one frame.

After the drills it was time for Ganguly to bat. He took guard and had to face just the net bowlers as India’s frontline bowlers Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik were busy bowling to Gautam Gambhir.

Interpretations and conspiracy theories were floated until one realised that the Indian pacers have been given an off-day by the coach and that made the ‘face-the-net session’ starless.

He later moved to the ‘spin net’ and the one notable aspect was his stepping out lofted six of left-armer Murali Kartik that landed in the stands. Once again tongues wagged on this side of the boundary ropes.

With shoulders lighter, Ganguly seemed more determined. Though statistics are not available, this could have been the longest batting net session Ganguly has had with the Indian team in recent times. Yuvraj dropped in for a brief talk as Ganguly took off his pads. Tendulkar too shared a joke with Ganguly when the two were bowling.

If Ganguly’s batting stint today was long, the bowling ‘net time’ was longer. For almost an hour the man, who made it to the Indian team as a bowling all-rounder ahead of Zaheer Khan, bowled his gentle in and out swingers. At the end of which Chappell snapped his fingers and it was time for some catching practice.

Standing next to Murali Kartik — the regular slip fielder in ODIs — Ganguly effected a one-handed diving-to-the-left catch. Chappell didn’t miss and applauded the effort. That was the last action and it was time to pack up as the India team — open to interpretations — walked out in batches. The decibel level was low and a strange uptight atmosphere prevailed as players took their seats in the bus.

Ask VVS Laxman about the mood of the team and the man, who in Zimbabwe was the first to talk about the negative vibes, gives a all-knowing smile. ‘‘It is terrific. The team has been winning so the confidence level is high. Everything is ok,’’ he said. Ask a junior if there is any off-the-record input and he spills it out: ‘‘You guys interpret a lot, this was a total normal net session. There will be a change as the captain has changed, that’s all.’’

Ask an official about the mood at the team hotel and he says” ‘‘All’s well, but thank god these days players have separate rooms. Imagine who would have shared the room with Ganguly considering the implications and interpretations.’’