Sourav Ganguly will have to play a big role as an opener to enable India win the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies beginning next month, former captain Sunil Gavaskar said in Kolkata on Thursday.
"I wish Ganguly gets more success from the game. I wish you (Ganguly) succeed particularly in the next few weeks when India will depend on you for giving the kind of start they need to bring back the Cup," Gavaskar said at a book release function, where the left hander was also present.
"Bring the World Cup to the country where cricket is a great passion for crores of people. And, when you bring back the Cup, you will get the most enthralling reception in this city," Gavaskar told Ganguly on his comeback to the Indian team by bagging the man of the series award against the Sri Lankans.
Gavaskar was here to release the book Sourav Ganguly - The Maharaja of Cricket written by cricket journalist Debasish Datta.
Terming it as a "magnificent book about a magnificent cricketer", the cricketing legend said before Ganguly came onto the scene the passion for the game in Bengal seldom translated into players getting through to the national team.
"Of course, there was the great Pankaj Roy, who did so well for India in an era when there were no helmets. But otherwise, very few cricketers made it into the Indian team.
"With Sourav coming through, so many young players have come up in Bengal. And, in time you will see many players representing India in international cricket," he said.
Gavaskar, however, said it was not enough to only earn the India cap.
"If you want to be remembered, you will have to play successfully as Sourav has done."
Further praising Ganguly, Gavaskar said he had a lot of similarities with the left hand willower.
"Apart from both of us being Cancerians, we also have the same initials SG," Gavaskar said.
"But our biggest similarity lies in the passion we share for the game, in playing for India and in leading India. Question may be raised on the approach and attitude, but no one can question our passion."
Gavaskar also acknowledged that Ganguly was a much more successful captain than him.
The coffee table book has been published by Niyogi Books.
