Ganguly has grit and determination, says coach

Sourav Ganguly's first coach, Debu Mitra believes his ward has the grit and determination to prove critics wrong once more

Ganguly has grit and determination, says coach

Sourav Ganguly's first coach, Debu Mitra believes his ward has the grit and determination to prove critics wrong once more

Debu Mitra, Sourav Ganguly's first cricket coach, believes his ward has it in him to make a comeback against all odds and prove his critics wrong. Ganguly was picked up by the Pune Warriors yesterday as a replacement for the injured Ashish Nehra. This, after Ganguly found no takers in the IPL player auction early this year.

Thereafter, debutants Kochi Tuskers Kerala were reportedly interested in signing him, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India rejected the request following objections from other franchises to bring back unsold players.
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Now, the former India skipper has a chance to hit back at his detractors and Mitra was confident his famous ward would do that in style.

"Sourav (Ganguly) has the drive. I know he is a very determined guy. He will not take anything lying down," Mitra, now the coach of Saurashtra, told MiD DAY yesterday.

"Personally, I am glad for him. Pune Warriors are a good team," he added.

At 38, India's most successful captain might have little to prove but his former coach saw it differently.

"Remember he played for India for eight years. Cricket is the same for everyone. Nobody wants to go away from the game," Mitra said.

"It gives you name and fame. Once you are aware of that, you don't give up. To achieve (success) once again is tough, but Sourav is a strong man."

There could be no doubt about Ganguly's skills as a cricketer, but fitness could be an issue. "I haven't seen him in the last one year, but I am sure he must have done what he needs to do before taking up this challenge," Mitra said.