Hats off to Sourav!!!

It is probably impossible to predict what Sourav Ganguly is going to do in the cricket field. Right at the beginning, eye brows were raised that he is in the team because of the zonal quota system in Indian selection and the influence of Mr. Dalmiya. What a start was that! Back to Back centuries in England and he almost did an Azharuddin in his third test, but unfortunately got out in the 60s if I remember correctly. Slowly, he grew in stature in the eyes of Indian fans and went on to become one of the finest One-day players India has ever produced. Sourav-Sachin went on to become the best opening pair in the history of ODIs.

He got elevated to captaincy earlier in his career because of lack of options for the Indian selectors. Here is where, came his greatest achievement for Indian cricket. He gave belief to the Indian team, took Indian cricket out of the dark days of match-fixing. He deserves to be judged the greatest captain Indian cricket has produced. But his form nose-dived towards the end of his captaincy and he became a liability in the strong batting line-up. In came the Greg Chappel saga, and Sourav divided public opinion like no one else.

He kept trying in the domestic circuit without ever setting it on fire and made a come back with the appointment of a new selection committee (read Vengsarkar). To everyone’s surprise helped India win the first test after his return. In fact, he is the highest run-getter among the middle order batsmen since his return. But seeing the success of fresh legs in the ODIs, selectors were itching to infuse youth in the test team also. Sourav’s failure in the Srilanka tour gave the selectors to press the exit button for Ganguly which was a little unfair considering his record since his return.

Can’t predict whether it is Gnaguly’s or India’s luck, there was again a change in the selection committee. Ganguly is back in the Indian team even after getting the axe from the Rest-of-India team and the probables list for the preparatory camp before the start of the Australia series. He himself has admitted to be surprised at his inclusion in the Indian team. To make things interesting he announced his retirement from cricket at the start if the series. Immediately debates started all over the media whether he is guaranteed four test matches in the series even if he fails in the first two. He took the onus to score and score it big if he wants to play all four in the series.

Once again he is the most consistent among the fav-four and achieved that century he craved for against the Aussies in his final series and made sure that he will go on his own terms. He might score big in the possible five innings remaining or he might fail. But I will not predict what he will do! Hats off to Ganguly, you beauty……