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Buchanan had asked Ganguly to quit T20 after IPL I
Convinced that Ganguly was unfit for Twenty20 cricket, John Buchanan had asked the left-hander to quit after the first edition of the IPL.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: July 10, 2009 02:37 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
New Delhi:
In his latest book 'The Future of Cricket: The rise of Twenty20', Buchanan revealed advising Ganguly to quit Twenty20 even though the then Knight Riders captain refused to oblige.
"At the end of the (inaugural IPL) tournament I told something he did not want to hear. 'I really think your game was off the pace and the more you play T20, the more harm you will do yourself,' I told him.
"Sourav responded to my frank assessment by claiming he had at least one more year of 20-over cricket in him. He told me his main aim was to get into the Test side against Australia, an aim he did achieve before announcing his Test retirement," Buchanan observed.
"He basically said to me: 'Thank you for your concerns, but I don't agree with what you are saying'."
Buchanan felt the advent of Twenty20 was a bit late for players like him and that it would have harmed the brand that Ganguly himself was.
"...Ganguly had created an incredible brand for himself in India. It might seem strange, but this is why I question his suitability for and need to play T20. I am concerned that he will erode his brand, his stature, by playing in the IPL," Buchanan said.
Convinced that Sourav Ganguly was unfit for Twenty20 cricket, former Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan had asked the left-hander to quit after the first edition of the Indian Premier League.In his latest book 'The Future of Cricket: The rise of Twenty20', Buchanan revealed advising Ganguly to quit Twenty20 even though the then Knight Riders captain refused to oblige.
"At the end of the (inaugural IPL) tournament I told something he did not want to hear. 'I really think your game was off the pace and the more you play T20, the more harm you will do yourself,' I told him.
"Sourav responded to my frank assessment by claiming he had at least one more year of 20-over cricket in him. He told me his main aim was to get into the Test side against Australia, an aim he did achieve before announcing his Test retirement," Buchanan observed.
"He basically said to me: 'Thank you for your concerns, but I don't agree with what you are saying'."
Buchanan felt the advent of Twenty20 was a bit late for players like him and that it would have harmed the brand that Ganguly himself was.
"...Ganguly had created an incredible brand for himself in India. It might seem strange, but this is why I question his suitability for and need to play T20. I am concerned that he will erode his brand, his stature, by playing in the IPL," Buchanan said.
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