Akash Chopra plays a cover drive in Hobart on Friday. Chopra is batting on 12. (AFP)

Hobart: Eventually, Sourav Ganguly not only played the three-dayer versus Australia A, but led the side. According to the ‘arrangement’ worked out on Thursday night, Virender Sehwag was to have captained even if Sourav played. Overnight, that changed.

“Actually, Sehwag himself said it would be odd if I played under him and that he wouldn’t feel comfortable... So, I was left with no choice,” Sourav told The Telegraph. With the captain deciding to play, Anil Kumble got a break.

Meanwhile, Deep Dasgupta had a good day behind the stumps and looked comfortable while batting towards the end of the first day. A big score, one understands, will bring him into reckoning for the third Test (from December 26). Parthiv Patel isn’t a certainty.