Ganguly urges India not to take Kenya lightly
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – Sourav Ganguly says his Indian line-up had learned from its mistake against Kenya, and he isn’t expecting any shock results in today’s Super Six encounter at Newlands.
“We took them lightly after bowling them out cheaply in the previous match,” 16 months ago, Ganguly said on the eve of the day-nighter, “We won’t do that again.”
Kenya has qualified with 10 points, two behind Australia and two ahead of India. And despite Steve Tikolo’s side-attracting, unwanted criticism for diluting cricket showpiece by reaching the second round, Ganguly expects a tough challenge.
“If we think we’re going to take this game lightly we could be in trouble,” said Ganguly. “They beat Sri Lanka,” in the first round.
“First of all, it’s a big achievement for them. If things don’t go properly (for other teams) they (Kenya) can qualify for the semifinal.”
India has bounced back from relatively ordinary opening performances against Netherlands and Australia to become a serious contender for the World Cup in the absence of South Africa, Pakistan, England and the West Indies.
A semifinal berth is within range, although it still faces 1996 champion Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the Super Six phase.
“We didn’t bat well,” Ganguly said of India’s 70-run defeat to Kenya in Port Elizabeth in October, 2001. “We were overconfident … we were expected to win.
“That was a series and this is the World Cup. Things are different and the mind-set is different – I don’t think we’ll make that mistake from a complacency point of view.”
India has shown new vigour and enthusiasm in the field in wins over England and Pakistan, but Ganguly said the new tempo was a result of a team building process over the last 18 months.
“It’s just not this World Cup. Actually in the last 1 1/2 -2 years we’ve been a unit,” he said. “It’s definitely a team. We’ve had our ups and downs. Played badly at times and lost. But as a team, we’ve always stuck together and I am not surprised it’s happening again.”
Ganguly said India had come back strongly after months of ironing out within the team during the series against the West Indies at home and in New Zealand.
“We didn’t go through a rough time at all,” Ganguly said. “We experimented a lot in the one-day series. We rested quite a few of the senior guys.
“Although we lost, we solved a few problems that were in the team – so far it has been good in the World Cup.”
Ganguly said he’s been surprised by the giant strides Kenya has made since its elevation as a limited-overs nation.
“They’ve done very well as a unit. The game against Sri Lanka was the high point of their World Cup,” Ganguly said.
Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs in Nairobi after pocketing four free points from New Zealand’s refusal to play there due to security fears.
“It’s up to them to make themselves competitive by lifting the standard of their game,” Ganguly said. “With the facility they have and the amount of games they play, they’ve done a wonderful job to qualify for the Super Sixes.”
Kenya played only 18 one-day internationals in four years leading into the World Cup but, with its success here and its co-hosting of the tournament, is expected to keep making inroads in cricket.