"I was the highest run getter in Tests in South Africa recently. The good thing is I have been consistent. Here if I get to the eighties I will surely try to convert them into 100s," Ganguly told reporters after the nets.

Asked how he was feeling on his "comeback", Ganguly said "I don't think of it as a comeback. We (Sachin Tendulkar and he) were not dropped, but officially rested. This also gave a few youngsters to perform."

Ganguly said he had no preferences for batting order or bowling during the Test. "I always work hard at the nets. It's the decision of the team and what the situation demanded," he said when asked if he would bowl in the Test. About opening the innings, he said "that is again up to the team management. If they deem fit I'm game."

On his huge popularity in Bangladesh, Ganguly said, "I don't consider Bangladesh as a different country. I captained in my first Test here. So, Bangladesh will always be special."

At nets Ganguly looked a picture of concentration when Rudra Pratap Singh, Romesh Pawar and three local bowlers bowled at him. Initially, he looked a bit tentative, but later his form returned. He also stepped out a few times to lift the spinners. Cricket manager Ravi Shastri stood all along watching Ganguly. At first, he stood at the umpire's position and then watched him from the point region. Ganguly also bowled at the nets to Wasim Jaffer and Sachin Tendulkar.

Ganguly also vehemently denied that he was linked with the breakaway Indian Cricket League and also lashed at the media for being irresponsible with their reporting. "It's not true. I think there are too many stories going around in Indian cricket," said Ganguly. "Anybody speaks anything and that's getting printed. The time has come to clarify things because this is not good for the individual as well as the team. I have not had any discussion with anyone, nor am I willing to have any discussions."

Another Indian, Anil Kumble, who has announced his retirement from the one-day cricket, was happy to be playing the longer version of the game. Dismissing speculation that it would be tough for him to focus on the game because of absence for a long time, he said, "It's got nothing to do with focus. It's got nothing to do with playing Test cricket after a long time. The fact is with the announcement from one-day cricket, I am probably more relaxed now."

He also considered the weather to be a major factor in the outcome of the series. "It is pretty hot. The team which copes with the heat better will come out top."

Kumble also spoke highly of the Tigers.

"Definitely Bangladesh have improved a lot. They won many matches in the last two years and that gave them a lot of confidence. They have a good side and we respect them. Obviously Test cricket is different but they have done well in the Test match arena as well. They came close to beating Australia last year. So we know their strengths and we will try to do our best."

He however said that he did not set any personal target in the coming two Tests. "No question of that. We came here to win the Test series."