Kolkata in shock over Ganguly’s IPL snub

Kolkata cricketing fraternity up in arms over Ganguly being ignored on Day One of auction

Kolkata in shock over Ganguly's IPL snub

Kolkata cricketing fraternity up in arms over Ganguly being ignored on Day One of auctionu00a0

Sourav Ganguly is one of India's most successful captains. But he was not wanted by any of the 10 teams for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League at the player auction here on Saturday.

There was silence in the auction area when auctioneer Richard Madley announced his name. A few minutes later, it was official that Ganguly was unsold.

KKR's newly-appointed CEO, Venky Mysore was very happy at lunch time. "We are going according to plan. We changed our strategy and are happy," he said.

KKR is co-owner by Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, who was not seen in the auction room. But why was Ganguly not picked? "We went by strategy. We also go by what our coaches tell us. It's not that we had decided in advance not to take Ganguly," said Mysore.

Anil Kumble, who is part of the RC Bangalore think-tank, and was present at the auction, told SUNDAY MiD DAY: "I guess people want young blood. That's all I can say."

In Kolkata, former national selector Sambaran Banerjee slammed the auction. "This is not a cricketing auction. It is ridiculous. Things are not very clear ufffd very unfortunate. I can't believe Sourav was not picked. He was the highest scorer for KKR last year."

Former Bengal captain and Test player Arun Lal was equally shocked. "Very, very unexpected; unthinkable," said Lal, who was part of a live television show, "I can understand that Brain Lara was not bought because he didn't play much of T20 cricket and is older now. But Sourav was one of the top run-getters last year."

"Shocking and unfortunate," was how erstwhile India opener Debang Gandhi reacted from Kolkata. Another ex-India spinner, Saradindu Mukherjee said, "I can't believe 10 teams didn't think about Sourav. The IPL is only about drama."

However, Shilpa Shetty, who is a co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, said: "Dada still has a chance. It's not over. Let's see what happens tomorrow." Meanwhile, Priety Zinta, the co-owner of KXI Punjab, said: "The script is made for all but the director decided who will act or not. Here, coaches have a major role in whom to pick or whom not to."

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