Ganguly's successful return strengthens India's Cricket World Cup prospects

Since he burst on the world cricket scene by scoring a century in his first Test match in 1996 (and at Lord's to boot) there has always been a little of the improbably theatrical about this accomplished cricketer.

Ganguly's position re-established with style

Whilst you might not have gambled your life savings on it, it was always a fair bet that if Ganguly ever regained his place in the Indian One Day side he would do it with style. It had been a long wait - since September 2005 in fact - and over those sixteen months, a period during which Indian cricket politics has resembled the Roman Empire at the time of Caligula, Ganguly has been a not always innocent victim of this political turmoil. It seemed at times likely that Ganguly would join the other bodies floating along the Tiber/Ganges (metaphorically, of course) but somehow, despite his long association with fellow Calcutta-ite the fallen BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya, Ganguly has survived the mayhem and returned to the international team. Solid performances in the Test series against South Africa showed that at the age of 34, and despite the long lay-off from the game, Ganguly had lost none of his batting skills. What he may have acquired to go with them is a soupçon of humility and pragmatism - he was diplomacy personified with the media and the traveling fans in South Africa. And whilst many of his fellow Bengalis may now call for Ganguly's complete rehabilitation and reinstatement as Captain, you haven't heard the man himself suggesting it - well not yet!

The ODI victory against the West Indies needs to be built upon

India's narrow win at Nagpur follows both the loss of six One Day Internationals in a row and also the team's surrender of the Test series against South Africa after being one up. This is a poor record by any standards - but particularly worrying with the World Cup less than two months away. Ganguly's return gives some beef to the batting and his experience, whether Captain or not, should be invaluable. India has three more one day matches against the Windies, and four against Sri Lanka, to get their act together. What they do not need is any more off-the-field controversy, and whilst it is too much to expect the rabid Indian media to lay off criticism, the best way for the at times beleaguered coach Greg Chappell and captain Rahul Dravid to avoid the flak is now to keep on winning.

Can Chappell, Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly work well together?

Until Sourav Ganguly was dropped to be replaced by Dravid as captain the two players had seemed to complement one another in the Indian side ever since their Test debut together at that Lord's match in 1996. True there were occasional signs of competing egos, but their contrasting styles and personalities were such that together they could be a formidable force. Factor in Sachin Tendulkar with his 375 One Day Internationals, and Greg Chappell with his acute cricket brain and you have a potentially impressive combination of cricketing talents. But success breeds success, and failure I'm afraid breeds failure (look at England in the last few months). There is little time for politics and lengthy debate until the World Cup and if India is to have a chance they need to work in harmony.

The World Cup is open despite the awesome Aussie machine

Ganguly has said recently that there are five teams that could win the World Cup - including England and India along with Australia, South Africa and Pakistan. I think that this is a shrewd assessment - although I would include the home team in the list as well. Nagpur revealed a fragility in India's bowling which needs to be addressed - the normally excellent Sreenath has been worryingly expensive in recent matches and some tightening of line and length would be welcome. But a batting line up which has an on song Gambhir opening with Ganguly - to be followed by Tendulkar, Dravid and Dhoni is formidable by any standards. To ask Ganguly to open on his return to the one day side was a masterstroke - he clearly reveled in the responsibility. He and the rest of the team really must build on this good start in the series and not let the Windies back in. The awesome Australian team needs to be challenged - they are far too far ahead of every other team at the moment for the good of world cricket. India has the ability to take the challenge to the Aussies - if, for once, they can pick the best team (which includes Ganguly) and stop the politicking!