Ganguly sidelined? KKR goes for multiple captains

Kolkata, Mar 25 (PTI) Sourav Ganguly today ceased to be the only skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders with the team deciding to try out multiple captaincy in the second season of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament starting April 18 in South Africa.

KKR coach John Buchanan said captaincy would be shared by Ganguly, West Indian Chris Gayle, New Zealand's explosive opener Brendon McCullum and Australian Brad Hodge, an announcement which will disappoint the fans of the former Indian skipper.

Buchanan, however, rubbished suggestions that the move was aimed at sidelining Ganguly.

"We (Sourav and I) had a long discussion yesterday and came to a conclusion that there was no need for any one captain. So, there will not be a fixed captain of the side... The concept of multiple captains is new, we'll have to see how it goes," Buchanan said in a press conference.

"I am very keen to look at different ways of running the show. We have got very good calibres, leaders in Sourav Ganguly, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge. Then, we have a very experienced and talented leader in (Laxmi Ratan) Shukla, the Bengal captain," he added.

Buchanan termed the move as "different ways of thinking" but it is being seen as a ploy to sideline the retired India batsman, who is approaching 37 and not seen by the coach to fit into the rigours of Twenty20 scheme of things. PTI