Neeed time to get into groove: Ganguly

Kolkata, Jan 12 (UNI) Staging a return to the ODI side after 14 months, Sourav Ganguly said he would need sometime to get into the groove since the return was after a long gap.

''I need time to settle down. I am back after 13-14 months. My record for India in the last 11 years (in ODIs) has been good and I hope to carry on from that, '' the former India captain told reporters at Eden Gardens here today.

Ganguly termed his comeback, which comes on the heels of his return to Test cricket, as an opportunity to score loads of runs and be a part of Team India in both versions of the game.

'' I will have to do well and score runs, '' said the 34-year-old lef hander, who played his last ODI against Zimbabwe in September, 2005.

Ganguly, who was also included in a provisional 30-member World Cup squad, declined to comment on his chances of making it to the Cup squad. He would rathar have a piece at a time and is concentrating on the home series fully.

''Let's first finish this series. Then there's another series (against Sri Lanka). There are still eight games to go before the World Cup. We should take one series at a time. '' Ganguly said it was important to win the series to head for the Caribbeans with a positive mindset. ''It is important for the team to win these eight games. We must go into the World Cup confident about winning matches. '' He said he had no qualms about batting anywhere in the order.

''I have no problems with playing in any position in the batting order. The team has just been announced. We play according to the plans of the team management. '' Asked about India's recent poor show in one-dayers, including a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of South Africa, Ganguly said, ''I think we need to put runs on the board, we need to bat well. It is just a phase that will get over soon, I hope.'' Ganguly was also confident about Virender Sehwag making a comeback for the World Cup squad.''Everybody knows his ability, getting dropped and picked is a part and parcel of the sports. I am sure he will return soon.'' He, however, nipped in the bud the speculatins of him being reinstated as captain in the shorter version of the game. '' At present Dravid is captain, Sachin Tendulkar is vice-captain and let us stick to that. '' With the Ranji Trophy century under his belt today and with the knowledge that the Indian team selectors had drafted him back into the national one-day squad, Sourav Ganguly did not come back to field during Rajasthan's second innings and looked much relieved with a spring in his feet.

Meanwhile, there was euphoria among the fans who had come to see their favourite 'Dada' play. Chantings of 'dada...dada' rent the air as the fans went into mad frenzy as the news of him being drafted into the national squad spread.

There was, however, no surprise in the countenance of Ganguly.

'' I think the inclusion in the Test team was much sweeter. This, I was expecting, '' he said. He also added that he never felt the need of proving himself to anyone, but he did need to perform.

He considered the West Indies, against whom India play a four-match home series, to be a good one-day side. '' I thought Brian Lara was the best captain in the Champion's Trophy, '' he said.

Ganguly regarded his experience as his main asset and said that he will give his suggestions to the team think tank only if asked to do so.

UNI