Kolkata: Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly on Wednesday said the triangular series in Bangladesh would be 'a good challenge' for his wards, but the team would feel the absence of physio Andrew Leipus during the championship beginning on April 11. "We will miss Leipus. It will be hot there so we needed a physio," Ganguly said.

Leipus, who was slated to accompany the team, was forced to change his plan as his wife met with an accident in Johannesburg.

Ganguly, who was speaking to reporters minutes before emplaning for Dhaka, said the triangular tournament would be challenging considering the strength of the main rivals South Africa. "Both India and South Africa have a lot of young blood and the tournament would be good challenge," he said.

The 15-member Indian squad, sans several big names, included new faces Avishkar Salvi, Gautam Gambhir, Abhijit Kale and Amit Mishra while offie Sarandeep Singh got a national recall after a fairly long gap.

Ganguly said despite the tournament being an entirely day-night affair, heat and humidity would be crucial factors "but that won't affect us that much as we are used to such conditions".

Asked about his back problem, the skipper said he was struggling with it "but, somehow it's okay with me".

Ganguly had initially expressed the desire to skip the tournament to recuperate from the back problem, but changed his decision following request from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The stylish southpaw, who was accompanied by wife Dona and one-and-a-half year old daughter Sana to Bangladesh, said the batting-order of the team was yet to be finalised. 

While vice-captain Virender Sehwag would open the innings, his partner was yet to be decided. "Let's see how it goes. Sehwag's opening partner would depend on conditions there," he said, when asked whether he himself would open the innings.

Queried if the vice-captaincy would put additional pressure on Sehwag, a free wheeling stroke maker, Ganguly said, "I don't think so. He should play the way he plays."

On whether players like Yuvraj Singh would have to take some additional burden with a number of seniors opting out, he said "why only Yuvraj? All of us will have to shoulder the responsibility".

The Indian team left onboard a Bangladesh Biman flight from the NSC Bose international airport at 11.00 a.m.

Asked about newcomers like pacer Salvi and Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir, the skipper said he had neither seen nor spoken to them. "I read about Salvi's exploit with the leather in West Indies. That impressed me and I wanted him in the team," he said.

The 21-year-old Mumbai speedster figured in the India 'A' side during the recent tour to the Caribbeans and finished as the highest Indian wicket-taker with 31 scalps.

Commenting on the composition of the new-look Indian side, team manager Goutam Dasgupta said, "It's a good blend of youth and experience and should do well. Alongside the youngsters, we have a number of players who did duty in the recent World Cup.''

"I am hopeful that we will win the tournament," said Dasgupta, who was manager of the national squad last year during its tour to the Caribbeans.

As for newcomers like Salvi, Gambhir and Abhijit Kale, he said "they have been rewarded for their superb display in the West Indies''.

Extras:
VC means I will have to be more responsible: Sehwag