That’s It! Sourav Ganguly en route to his 83 during India’s tour match against Rest of South Africa at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom on Thursday. (AP)

Calcutta: “The disappointment at not getting a hundred in my comeback match will remain, but I’m happy that I got 83…”

That was Sourav Ganguly’s reaction when The Telegraph contacted him at the Willows Garden Hotel in Potchefstroom, late on Thursday, soon after the team got back from Sedgars Park.

Asked whether it took him time to settle down, he replied: “Well, as I played, I grew in confidence and got better… You’ve got to remember I just got in a couple of days ago.”

Sourav’s last appearance for India, in any form, was in the Karachi Test as many as ten months ago.

What were his thoughts when he took guard at 37 for three?

Sourav’s answer was business-like: “To get as many runs as I could… Of course, I didn’t set a target… Unfortunately, we kept losing wickets…”

Commenting on the surface, he said: “I would say it was a typical South African wicket… Had bounce and the ball seamed.”

Sourav had much praise for centurion Irfan Pathan, who’d made his India debut under him three years ago.

“Irfan batted beautifully… He didn’t allow the situation to get to him… It was nice watching him from the other end…”

Sourav and Pathan added a chunky 139 for the sixth-wicket.