Ganguly needs to fire for India to win: Gavaskar

Kolkata, Feb 22 (UNI) Little Master Sunil Gavaskar hoped Sourav Ganguly will give India the kind of start the team needs to win the World Cup in the Caribbeans next month.

Gavaskar, who was in the city to release a book on Sourav Ganguly, today said, '' Ganguly needs to fire if India wants to win the World Cup. '' ''He needs to give India the kind of start they need to bring home the World Cup. We need him to play a solid innings at the start,'' Gavaskar said.

Further describing him as an excellent captain and player, Gavaskar said, ''The Ganguly factor has worked wonders for Bengal, which has been passionate about cricket.'' ''We have a young brigade of cricketers from Bengal who if given a proper chance will shine for India,'' he said.

Continuing on the topic he went on to say was that Ganguly important for India. ''One can play one Test, get the country colours and be happy. But he will be forgotten soon. A player will be remembered only when he represents the country successfully.

Sourav has done exactly that,'' he said.

Talking about similarities between himself and Ganguly, he said, ''We both share the same passion for the game. He is much more successful than me as a captain, but as far as our commitment to the game is concerned we are on the same level. But then again there is a difference in attitude and approach.'' Then on a lighter vein he added, ''We both are Cancerians and share the initials SG. So the commonality continues.'' The book ''Sourav Ganguly: Maharaja of Cricket,'' penned by renowned journalist Debashis Dutta, is a pictorial monograph that talks about Ganguly till his recall in South Africa.

UNI