Kolkata, June 22 (IANS) Yuvraj Singh, captain of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Pune Warriors, Wednesday said Sourav Ganguly's inclusion in the Sahara-owned team was his gesture to pay back the support he had received from the former India captain during the initial years of his career.

"I and Sourav share a very good relationship. He supported me a lot during my initial years in international cricket. And I think it was my time to support 'Dada' as he wanted to play IPL," said Yuvraj while addressing a programme of 'Emotional Atyachaar -Season 3' here.

"We had very good interactions during the IPL seasons. We had good plans and I hope that we will have good plans and strategy in the next season of the IPL also," said Yuvraj.

Ganguly, who led Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders during the last three IPL seasons, was signed by the Warriors as replacement for Ashish Nehra after he went unsold in the IPL auctions for the fourth edition. Ganguly was roped in at the last moment and many were hoping that the former India captain will turn things around for the bottom-placed Pune side.

When asked about Ganguly's body language in the dressing room during the high voltage match between Pune Warriors and Kolkata Knight Riders, Yuvraj said: "I have spoken to him at that time. But he had nothing of that sort in his mind that he needs to prove something against Knight Riders. He always wanted to play good cricket."

Yuvraj also mentioned that Ganguly doesn't need to prove anything to anybody after playing for so many years in international cricket.

"I don't think Sourav needs to prove anything to anybody after playing international cricket for so many years," he said.