McCullum replaces Sourav Ganguly as KKR skipper

Zeecric Bureau

Cape Town, April 17: It seems that Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan had his own way in the scheme of things Sourav Ganguly has been slashed off the captaincy of the IPL team and the responsibility has been shouldered to Brendon McCullum instead.

It is not clear whether McCullum`s appointment is for the entire season or if he is part of John Buchanan`s idea of multiple captains.

A lot of controversy had been created earlier regarding Buchanan’s ‘multiple-captains theory’ wherein he proposed to have different captains for the different aspects of the game, i.e. - batting, bowling, fielding and the toss as well.

The concept seemed more of conspiracy to remove Ganguly from the captaincy of KKR than to bring about some changes for the betterment of the team.

However, later, team owner Shah Rukh Khan dismissed the possibility of having multiple captains and said that “Dada will always remain our (KKR’s) main man”.

The decision has indeed come as a major jolt for Ganguly, but for McCullum, it must be a chance of a lifetime.

Kiwi hardhitter batsman-keeper exploded on the IPL scene with his brilliant knock of 156 against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the opening edition of the Indian Premier League last year. McCullum’s knock set the ball rolling for the IPL and is still the highest ever score in a T20 match. The Knight Riders will now be hoping he can reproduce some of that brilliance in the second edition of the IPL.

Ganguly, who led the team in the first IPL season, and West Indies captain Chris Gayle have been given the role of senior management in the team.

Ganguly is the third captain to have lost captaincy after the first season. VVS Laxman was the first to go when Deccan Chargers made Adam Gilchrist the skipper and then Rahul Dravid made way for Kevin Pietersen at Bangalore Royal Challengers.

KKR will meet Deccan Chargers in the second match of Sunday`s double-header.