Kolkata: Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly on Friday admitted that the ire of the fans in the country after the team's loss to Australia in the World Cup group league had egged the boys on to play well or else "we knew it would have been difficult to come back home". "It was sad the way fans behaved after we lost to Australia in the group league. But that spurred us on. We knew we can't go back home if we don't perform well now," Ganguly said at a felicitation programme organised by the West Bengal government. Speaking in Bengali, the 'Prince of Kolkata', said the Indian team realised after the strong protests by cricket lovers that playing bad cricket would be doing 'injustice' to the people who left everything else to watch them play day after day. "In South Africa, whenever we had leisure, we surfed through the hundreds of SMS messages that you all sent us. Some suggested what to do when we win the toss, some prompted which players to play and some others pointed out our weaknesses. It was great to experience the love and concern of so many Indians," he said. The skipper said whenever the boys played well, the team felt an immense sense of relief for having given fans 'a great time' and making the country proud. Pointing out that the team's performance was exemplary considering that 10 of the players were first time World Cuppers, Ganguly said 'very good times' were ahead for the Indian side in days to come. "The team's future is bright. Young boys Sehwag, Yuvraj, Kaif, Zaheer and Nehra will only improve now and they will hold the key to the 2007 World Cup," he said. Ganguly said the 'unsung heroes' coach John Wright, physio Andrew Leipus and physical trainer Adrian Le Roux had contributed immensely to the success of the team. "Though not many in the public sphere or in the media realise their contribution, I must put on record their indispensable roles in the good show of the team." To the hundreds of fans, who crowded the Netaji Indoor Stadium for the felicitation ceremony, Ganguly said, "I am born here. This place means everything to me. I would only be happy if many more Bengali youths shone in this game." Urging the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to pick more young talents from the state, the Indian skipper said a serious efforts should be made to hone meritorious cricketers. Extras:
Pure arrogance is what Ganguly is all about: Bedi

Tags: cricket, indian skipper saurav ganguly, world cup in south africa, west bengal government, sehwag, yuvraj, kaif, zaheer, nehra, indian coach john wright, indian physio andrew leipus, indian physical trainer adrian le roux, cricket association of bengal, cab.