Ganguly backs struggling IPL captains

Sourav Ganguly backed IPL's unsuccessful captains VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh calling it unfair to blame an individual for the team's failings. Laxman's Deccan Chargers are yet to win a game while Harbhajan's Mumbai Indians and Yuvraj's Kings XI Punjab had lost their first two matches.

"A captain always depends on how the team performs," Ganguly, leader of the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are currently topping the table, told PTI. "Obviously, if they have had the experience as captain, it would have surely helped them in handling pressure. But it all depends on how the 11 players in the team perform."

Laxman has some leadership experience with India A, South Zone and Hyderabad, Yuvraj has led in barely a couple of games beyond the Under-19 level and the IPL is Harbhajan's first captaincy stint.

Ganguly, who had a six-year spell as India captain between 1999 and 2005, felt the experience of leading the national team couldn't be matched by captaining an IPL side. "It is okay. The feeling is good but it could never the same as captaining India," he said when asked to compare the two.

Ganguly's next match has his Kolkata team take on the Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Sunday in a clash between teams yet to lose a match.