Sourav Ganguly [Images], who left for Sri Lanka [Images] on Sunday to take part in the tri-series, says India could have won the series opener against Sri Lanka had the batsmen scored a few more runs.

Ganguly, however, refused to attach much significance to India's defeat, saying it was only the first match of the season.

"It was a close match. It would have been good if we had a few more runs on the board," Ganguly told newspersons at his residence before leaving for Chennai en route to Sri Lanka.

"But it was only the first match of the season and we still have three matches left," he said.

Ganguly will join his teammates in Dambulla on Monday ahead of the third group league match against Sri Lanka on August 3.

He said he is happy to be back in action after a three-month lay-off.

"It's a great feeling that I am back into the game."

He also praised Rahul Dravid [Images] for his fine captaincy in the first match and reiterated that he has no problem playing under him.

"Yesterday I was the skipper, today Rahul has taken my place, tomorrow someone else may lead India. That's very natural. There is no problem there," he said.

The dashing left-hander also lauded the performance of rookie Y Venugopala Rao in the first match.

"He played well. Slowly but surely he will shape up as a fine player."

Ganguly, included as the 16th member of the team, became eligible to play for India from the third match of the tournament after ICC-appointed arbitrator Justice Albie Sachs reduced the six-ODI suspension slapped on him to four matches.

Ganguly was punished by match referee Chris Broad for the Indian team's slow over-rate in an ODI against Pakistan at Ahmedabad in April. He missed the last two ODIs against Pakistan and also had to sit out of the first two games of the tri-series due to the ban.

If Ganguly is selected in the final XI in the island nation, this would be the first instance in five years that he would be playing as only a player and not as captain.

The BCCI had opted for Dravid as captain for the tri-series as Sachs was yet to give his verdict on the ban-related dispute when the selectors picked the team on July 18.

As per an agreement between the BCCI and its Sri Lankan counterpart, Ganguly was provisionally included as the 16^th member of the squad pending Sachs' verdict.

Ganguly went with his family members to a temple near his Behala home to offer prayers before leaving for the NSC Bose International Airport.

He was seen off at the airport by his parents and daughter Sana.