On a different pitch

Sourav Ganguly has started a new innings. No, the most successful captain of India isn’t making a comeback to international cricket. The stylish leftk-hander is in fact, on the judge’s chair these days, facing the arclights in a reality show, which has a cricket link

in some way.

The second season of IPL is going to kick-off soon. And apna Dada is on the look out of some extremely good cheerleaders for his team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

“It’s a totally new experience for me,” he laughs, “There’s a lot of difference between playing cricket on the field and judging a reality show. Frankly speaking, I’ve never been in a show like this before.”
But then why now? “Oh, let me first clear that I’m not starting a career in the entertainment field. As a captain of my IPL team, I’ve been asked to select a cheerleading team which will take part in the upcoming season of IPL,” he says.

So, what qualities is he looking for in the cheerleaders? “First and foremost, they should have the knowledge of the game. T20 is not just about cricket, it involves great deal of entertainment off the field as well. And I think they are an important cog in the wheel.”

Ganguly, who has been playing international cricket for the past 17 years before he hung his boots, and has taken the best of the bowlers to the cleaners in his playing days, has the “same passion for the game still. When I was the skipper of Team India, I used to feel the emotions of the whole country. And now when I’m the captain of (KKR), which is a team from Kolkata –– known to be one of the most passionate cities in India –– the passion is still there.”

Enough of entertainment. On a serious note, we ask him on recent attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore. “It was frightening, to say the least. It’s terrible for the game of cricket, where players are attacked by terrorists. I just hope that no more of such incidents take place in the future,” says Ganguly on a parting note.

source: indiatimes.com