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Ganguly lauds Bangar, Agarkar's showing

Bangar has infused flexibility into Indian team: Ganguly India skipper Sourav Ganguly lavished praise on Sanjay Bangar for his all-round performance against the West Indies in the sixth one-dayer at Jodhpur, saying the Railways player's showing has provided more flexibility to the team ahead of the coming World Cup.

"The way he is flowering, I think we are going to have a lot of options in South Africa," Ganguly, who opted out of the last two matches of the ongoing limited-over series owing to a back problem, said in Kolkata on Friday.

He added: "He [Bangar] may not be flamboyant, but he has no dearth of fighting spirit."

Bangar had guided India to victory with an unbeaten knock of 57 in the fourth one-dayer at Ahmedabad before scoring an unbeaten 32 at Jodhpur, where he also picked two wickets.

Describing the series-leveling three-wicket victory over the Windies, at Jodhpur, as "very satisfying", he said his team would repeat the performance in the concluding match of the series, at Vijaywada on Sunday, and win the series.

"We had to win in Jodhpur. The boys rose up to the occasion, and now there will be no looking back for them at Vijaywada. India will definitely start as favourites," he said.

Ganguly also lauded man-of-the-match Ajit Agarkar's showing, saying: "I have always rated him highly. It's good that he has returned to form at the right time."

Agarkar, who had started the series well with a swashbuckling 95 in the Jamshedpur opener, was dropped after the third match following an indifferent showing with the ball, but was recalled after the fifth game. He celebrated his return by claiming three vital West Indies wickets.

The Indian skipper disclosed that he has plans to utilise the Mumbai bowler's services in the number three slot yet again in New Zealand.

Ganguly also hailed stand-in-skipper Rahul Dravid's leadership qualities.

"He captained well. His record as skipper is also enviable."

India have won all the three matches in which Dravid has led the team.

Ganguly informed that his back pain has subsided to a great deal after three days of rest, and asserted that he would be fit before the team leaves for New Zealand.

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