What's the most enduring image of Sourav Gangluy?
Him standing at the Lords balcony, waiving his shirt before millions of TV viewers all across the world or him standing at short mid wicket chewing his nails, or him... Read The Article
Dropkick seems to have a point in what he says. On the one hand we sympathise with Ganguly on being shown the door and on the other we critize the same team he led for losing to Pakistan and Australia. Hey Guys! We are winning today! So, why can't we stop looking back and instead look ahead? It is sad but true that Ganguly does not fit into the this team - be it tests or ODI - thanks to the rivetting performances of youngsters like Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni etc. And with the same guys making it to the test team, Sourav's case seems doomed. But, isn't this what today's world is all about? If a professional does not re-invent himself in a matter of six months to a year, he gets the pink slip! And he never gets a chance to bow out gracefully. So, why are we so sorry about a man who was hero in the past? Today we have new heros! Like someone said, Kapil Dev too was a liability towards the end of his career - maybe he stayed just to go past Hadlee's record.
( Posted: Saturday , February 25, 2006 at 06:32 )
Anirban
He was successful as he was a Dada like Ricky Ponting is in Australian Cricket. Kiran More and RahulDravid will realise soon, Dadas can't be created. They come and stay with us as long as we treat them well. Cricketrs in this country have come and gone but real Dada giri in international cricket was shown by only Saurabh.
( Posted: Saturday , February 25, 2006 at 06:26 )
Sly
There are thousands of instances where Sachin showed sportsman spirit as a captain, remember alowing a runner for a slightly unfit Saeed Anwar for his record breaking 191, Sachin won games for India purely on merit and fairplay and won admirers the world over. So did captains before him and so does Rahul Dravid.
As for Ganguly, Lord only knows why he made Anil Kumble sit out of the 2003 World Cup final, why he chose to bowl first on a pitch condusive for batting first, and the only Aussie weakness in that tournament i.e. spin, got Harbhajan to bowl for only 8 overs, and that after Harbhajan had taken the only 2 wickets and tightened the noose around the Aussie lineup.
On the penultimate day only fast bowlers(Aussie liking)were used extensively on a pitch suiting spin bowling. Had Kumble been played that day, had India batted first, had Harbhajan bowled his stipulated ten overs,it would have been a different story for a country that reached such an important finals after 20 good years. Thanks to the agressive captaincy of Ganguly. Perhaps both Ganguly and Dalmiya know it better as for why India lost that finals so conveniently.
( Posted: Saturday , February 25, 2006 at 01:26 )
Indrajit Sardar
It is amazing that Saurav has united people of all colours, professions and ages even when he is being dropped... that is his ultimate slap to all Ganguly bashers---not since Independence have we been so united against injustice...
( Posted: Saturday , February 25, 2006 at 00:32 )
shrey
there he goes again......... nope not ganguly. i'm talking about those blokes who keep on dragging bengalis into this issue.comments like bengalis wake up or bengalis grow up...... stop it, it's embarrassing. don't drag regionalism into this and then talk about politics in cricket. Ganguly will be back.He looked good in Pakistan and chappell got scared. simple. Please be more open minded before giving others advice.
( Posted: Friday , February 24, 2006 at 23:57 )
Santanu
Countrymen owe to this man for shaping what we call Modern Indian cricket team. All these years we lacked aggression, self belief and the feeling of Oneness and none other than Ganguly has been instrumental in sprouting this in our team. Like Sunil Gavaskar and many legends have,someday Sachin will also move out of the prime. Does that mean you will question their abilities and contribution? Thats insane and not acceptable in this civilised society which has been witness to a Golden history and great warriors.Every individual has contributed to the country in whatever possible way. If you think Saurav didnt do enough then lets stop garlanding those thousand Politicians and Freedom fighters in the Parliament, the highest symbol of our pride and achivement. So, lets stop making a mockery of Dedication and Effort put in a fantastic way.
( Posted: Friday , February 24, 2006 at 22:48 )
Anand
All said and done,Sourav was a true leader of Indian men.He was a fighter and took the fight to the opposition. Not to mention the fact that he was the most succesful Indian captain ever.Let us not forget that. Now the point is, if the selectors and mr.coach are blooding new talent and have no time and space for oldies how did one mr.VVS.Laxman find a place? I like VVS for his graceful batting but in terms of both current form as well as age he doesn't qualify? It beats me.
So the least you could do for a guy like Ganguly is to give him a graceful exit.Even Kapil in towards his end, didn't qualify by merit but he was given room to retire gracefully. Is that too much to ask for our dada? Anand
( Posted: Friday , February 24, 2006 at 20:59 )
PN MUKUND
I feel there is a contradiction in the author's statements.A thinker would ensure that his acts follow his thoughts.Ganguly was not a thinker otherwise he would have prepared well before reacting to chappels statements or actions.He was an aggressive player and that is what got him the captaincy.He backed young talented players and probably was responsible in building up a good team.Every individual has his strengths and weakness.If aggression was ganguly's strength, his weakness was his attitude when it came to batting and fielding abilities.A good player need not be a good captain (like sachin), but a good captain has to be a good player and lead from the front(like dravid,I know it is too early).Ganguly had done most of the things right, but last one year or so we must admit he has not performed to his potential.I agree sachin and Laxman too have been inconsistent.It was incosistency in laxman's selection in the team that reduced his number of failures which helped him with a better test average than ganguly.In sachin's case it is futile to discuss,BCCI just does not have the guts to do that for reasons best known to them.
( Posted: Friday , February 24, 2006 at 20:52 )
pardeep sharma
Saurav is over, now is the time for team india's Gaurav. Cricket is not an individual's game. And Saurav is not team India. These so called biased bengali babu moshai's should start investing time, energy and words in the goodness of society. CNN should keep experts to their columns. A political writer should be writing politics only and do not try bringing politics in indian cricket team.
I hope one day people, especially today's bengalis will grow up to recognise that a nation is bigger then individuals.
( Posted: Friday , February 24, 2006 at 20:38 )
Sudeep
DearMr. Ramesh, I am not sure whether you have any connection with Indian politics. I am not sure why do you say that Saswata is supportive of Ganguly because he is from Kolkata.I do not think Venu,Kumud and Shamser are not from Kolkata. Ganguly was and is a true leader.Why do you defend Dravid? May be you have some Bangalore connection? Dravid has not even seen a true away series (Aus,NZ,SA,Eng and SL) and he is being compared to Ganguly who is compared to one of the greatest captains of all times Brearley. Ganguly is a cricketer who has fought all the hurdles on and off the field no one can even dream of.Just wait for a year and see the performance of this so called "Young Team". As I have mentioned before, time has come for Dravid to join Indian politics. May be he has a better future there.
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