Sourav Ganguly had high ambitions and he fulfilled them in style. He did not take things lying down and commanded a position in the team as a matter of right. A century on debut at Lord’s in 1996 was an early indication of his awesome talent and with time he grew into a legend, writes Vijay Lokapally.
The ‘Maharaj of Indian cricket’ and the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ played the game on his terms; and he also left it on his terms. For Sourav Ganguly, it was a tough decision to make, but having already made up his mind he swiftly glided into the former cricketers’ club with a farewell performance that was in keeping with his ability.
“I was fed up with the repeated humiliation. I didn’t want to play my cricket at the mercy of someone,” Ganguly said candidly. He had been subjected to all kinds of embarrassments in his early days. It was no different even after Ganguly had played 100 Tests.
For a player, who was described as a ‘quota’ selection when he staged a comeback to the Indian team in 1996, to have played 113 Tests is remarkable indeed.
Former cricket greats have been lavish in their praise of Ganguly. This was a very different kind of player from Bengal. He had high ambitions and he fulfilled them in style. He did not take things lying down and commanded a position in the team as a matter of right. A century on debut at Lord’s in 1996 was an early indication of his awesome talent and with time he grew into a legend.
There was something about Ganguly that set him apart from the others. The ‘quota’ comment was a grim reminder throughout his career that his place in the Indian team was never secure. It helped Ganguly that he never played cricket for the sake of glamour or money. He was convinced early in his career — even if the selectors weren’t — that he had a future in the game. And he pursued his ‘love’ with an intensity that would have made even Sachin Tendulkar proud.
Ganguly’s selection to the Indian team for the tour of Australia in 1991-92 was the beginning of a career that was launched on a sober note. It lay dormant for the next four years before a wonderful domestic season and the exceptional vision of ormer Test batsman, G. R. Viswanath, paved the way for his comeback.
The selection committee was flayed by the critics for picking Ganguly for the tour of England in 1996. The opposition and the conditions there would be too difficult for the Bengal left-hander to handle, they contended. But Ganguly silenced them with his bat, speaking a language that was sweet and sound. The consistency with which he scored left nobody in doubt that he deserved a place in the team. All talk of ‘quota’ was out of place.
Ganguly was a strong man. And it reflected in his mental strength when batting in the middle. He had his shortcomings, just as many of his contemporaries did, but the fact that he was a gifted batsman was never in doubt. Ganguly even surprised himself with the huge strides he made in international cricket. It was only natural that he became one of India’s Fabulous Four (Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman are the others).
Ganguly was inimitable in terms of expressing himself. His views on the game or his colleagues were always honest and forthright.
Ganguly was made of tough fibre. Nothing illustrated his mental resolve more than his remarkable comeback after nine months in exile. During the 2006-2007 series in South Africa, he emerged the highest run-getter. It was his way of making the team management realise his worth. He had been slighted, but he knew how to earn the respect of his fellow-players and the officials. By playing the game on his own terms.
Ganguly’s comeback was a tribute to his love for cricket. When he returned to the one-day circuit, he continued to bat with the same flair. He aggregated 1240 runs in 32 matches (average: 44.28) before being dumped again. His fielding went against him and the selectors, in a hurry to do away with some of the veterans, namely Dravid, Laxman and Kumble, dropped him also from the ODI squad.
For Ganguly, the Indian team’s tour of England in 2007 was special for many reasons. India won the series and he was second in the list of run-getters with scores of 34, 40, 79, 2 not out, 37 and 57. “I was satisfied because I contributed to an Indian win,” he had said humbly on his return from England. It was typical of Ganguly to look at the positives.
He was at his peak against Pakistan in late 2007. It was his stage. He had always loved to dominate the bowlers and this was one attack that he slaughtered at will. He returned scores of 8, 48, 102, 46, 239 and 91. He was the most consistent of the Indian batsmen and carried the team on his shoulders with a performance that was worthy of a cricket Oscar.
Once described by Dravid as ‘God on the off-side’, Ganguly, 36, had his share of rough treatment by an administration that failed to recognise his stellar services to the game. He was at his explosive best when stung by a venomous email from Greg Chappell. “That was the darkest period of my cricket career,” Ganguly confessed.
Greg Chappell, acknowledged as one of the greats of the game, revealed his fangs at the right time for Ganguly to draw inspiration and silence his detractors. “It (the email) served as a tonic,” stressed Ganguly, who never looked back after that.
Though Ganguly’s feats on the field have been amply documented, it is his role as one of the pillars of Indian batting that will be remembered in times to come. Ganguly was an integral part of a transition that saw India emerge as a force in world cricket. His last days only established his credentials as a great entertainer. After a forgettable series in Sri Lanka, he signed off in style against Australia at home.
Ganguly’s final walk to the crease was uneventful — he was out first ball. He did not shed a tear, though. He won a million hearts who wanted to know ‘Why’, as he bid adieu. Therein lay Ganguly’s victory. His 12-year-journey in international cricket shall remain a source of inspiration to the young players.
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