Ganguly returns as captain

After last year's atrocious performance by the Kolkata Knight Riders, it was evident that large scale changes were going to be made. Not surprisingly, Ganguly will be back as the captain. Dave Whatmore has replaced Buchanan and Wasim Akram joins the Knight Riders as the Chief Mentor.

The announcement about Sourav's return to the captaincy was to be expected. He had been replaced by Brendon McCullum in this year's edition of the IPL but when you come back with a 3-10 win loss record, the captain's head is among the first to roll.

But more than the captain, the coach, John Buchanan was the target of much of the criticism and ridicule. In fact so atrocious were his decisions that I wonder how the Australian team of the 2000s managed to win with him as the coach. Whether Dave will be any different from Buchanan remains to be seen. Even Buchanan had a very impressive record before joining KKR...

Whatmore's support staff will include Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya as his deputy, Andrew Leipus as the physio Adrian le Roux as the team trainer.

All in all the changes seem sensible. Ganguly will get the chance to make yet another comeback and prove to his detractors that the qualities that made him one of India's best captains have not abandoned him. McCullum is a fantastic cricketer but his leadership abilities were always in question. The sacking of Buchanan was also absolutely necessary to restore some confidence in the ranks. But what is inexplicable is the appointment of Wasim Akram as the team mentor. I feel that with three over achievers (Ganguly, Whatmore and Akram) making decisions, it will lead to ego clashes and the nightmares of the last season may well return.