Published: Apr 16, 2013, 07:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 16, 2013, 07:27 PM (IST)
Sourav Ganguly revealed that the Pune Warriors management had decided not to make Yuvraj Singh (above) captain again after their first season © IANS
Kolkata: Apr 16, 2013
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today revealed that Pune Warriors management never thought that Yuvraj Singh is “captaincy material” after the team’s debacle in the 2011 IPL when they finished last.
Ganguly feels that’s the reason why Angelo Mathews and Ross Taylor have been preferred as captains ahead of the senior left-hander.
“The management had decided not to make Yuvraj captain again after our first season. They thought he [Yuvraj] was not a captaincy material — not the one who could lead the side. It was a decision that was taken after our first season (2011),” Ganguly told a regional TV channel.
Mathews was dropped yesterday as Taylor became the franchise’s fifth skipper from three seasons and the Kiwi led the side to a convincing 24-run win over Chennai Super Kings.
As it turned out, Steven Smith, who was Mathews’ replacement, came up with a match-winning performance with his pyrotechnic 39 not out as PWI looked a transformed side.
Ganguly felt PWI would stick to the line-up in future.
“The team looked balanced. Dinda did very well, while Rahul Sharma was magnificent. The foreign line-up in Finch, Taylor, Smith and Marsh also looked a settled unit.
“I would be surprised if they change the combination for the line-up against Sunrisers Hyderabad [tomorrow],” Ganguly said.
The left-hander further said the Pune franchise have it in them to make the last four.
“They can make the last four. They have some big hitters in [Robin] Uthappa, [Aaron] Finch, Taylor, Smith and [Mitchell] Marsh who can win [the match] on their own. Their bowling in Bhuvneshwar [Kumar], Dinda and [Rahul] Sharma also looks settled. They have to keep the momentum,” Ganguly said.
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