JOIN USAsked whether he could be seen playing in the ongoing IPL, Ganguly told a television channel, "...Dekhte paabe (you will see). I am keeping my fingers crossed." There may be a latest window of opportunity for the 38-year-old, as it is believed that Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene who is the skipper of Kochi Tuskers Kerala will leave for Sri Lanka in the first week of May for the upcoming tour of England.
Ganguly is tipped to lead the debutants Kochi outfit once Jayawardene leaves for the national duty.
The Lankan cricketers have been asked to return home early to prepare for the national team's tour of England, getting underway on May 14. This gives a fresh lease of hope to the former Knight Riders skipper, who did not find any takers during in the IPL auction in January, after his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders did not retain him.
It is learnt that the Kochi team management had tried to rope in Ganguly in place of injured Australian recruit Steve Smith.
However, the IPL rules did not permit this as the Australian's base price (USD 200000) was higher than that of Ganguly (USD 400000).
Kochi had previously sought permission from the BCCI to recruit Dada outside the auction but IPL's Governing Council had rejected the move. Meanwhile, asked to pick four sides to make it to the semifinals of the IPL, Ganguly said, "It's difficult. But Kolkata Knight Riders are doing well, apart from Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Kochi Tuskers.
"Knight Riders were in a similar position even last year. So it's all about maintaining the momentum," said Ganguly. He also said that Knight Riders should include wicketkeeper-batsman Shreevats Goswami ahead of Manvinder Bisla, who has been opening the batting and keeping the wickets.