Sourav Ganguly might have been ruled out from the sole leadership position by Kolkata Knight Riders cricket manager John Buchanan, but his fellow mate Aakash Chopra looks up to the former Indian captain for his vast experience.
Chopra, who made his debut under Ganguly's captaincy against New Zealand in Motera in October 2003, always looks up to the Bengal left-hander's vast experience.
"I will be looking up to Ganguly for his vast experience... You as a player, always follow your seniors... For myself, Ganguly and Ponting, the other senior player of the side, inspire me and I will be looking up to them," Chopra, who joined the Knight Riders camp at Eden Gardens, told PTI.
Refusing to comment on Buchanan's concept of "multiple captaincy", Chopra however said he would be happy with whatever role assigned to him.
"As a senior player, I see myself as a mentor of for the juniors. I should ensure that the work ethics are in place for me to set the example. It's a process, like I learnt from my seniors. Whatever role assigned to me, I will just fulfil that," he added.
The 31-year-old Delhi player is yet to play a match in South Africa but the former India Test opener sees this as an opportunity to get back under the selector's radar ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, due in England in June.
"I am looking at this positively. It's a challenge and I look to it as a huge opportunity for we players to get exposure in foreign condition without actually representing the country.
"I had a very decenT first-class season, I hope I continue my form into the IPL and deliver for the side. I am sure the performance here will be noticed and it will give another chance," he added.
"As a cricketer, you want to play in every country. I believe in the fact that a cricketer should play in every condition and adapt himself to that condition. It is going to be different there in South Africa. It's a different country so the dynamics of the game changes. But the excitement would remain the same, even as it's away from here," added the Delhi batsman.
Kolkata Knight Riders might have finished sixth in the inaugural IPL edition, but Chopra thinks this time around they have started on a positive note and the title is achievable.
"This year, we have put the things in the right direction... We were the most active franchise in last 10 months, conducting camps, selecting young talents, grooming them... etc. We have the potential to win the final. We have the side and enough preparation for achieving that," he said.
But he quickly added that fans should not disappoint if they did not return home with the trophy.
"You never know in a Twenty20 game. In the Twenty20 World championship last time, Zimbabwe beat Australia... Anything can happen here but we will give our best shot."
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