Dada turning 46? Time passes so quickly and a boy who didn’t want to carry drinks to the ground is now a living legend turning another leaf to move towards completing a real life half century.
Doesn’t sound realistic but such has been the aura of Saurav Ganguly that one would always correlate him with youth, authority, attitude and the one who gave self-esteem and confidence of win to Indian cricket.
Post Kapil and Gavaskar era, Indian cricket was in safe hands but that ‘Dekh Loonga’ attitude was always missing. The NatWest Finals at Lords changed the definition and that taking off his shirt (though controversial) in Lords balcony was probably the most defining moment of Indian Cricket. It altered the EGO of the dressing rooms forever and told the world who was the ‘BOSS’ of the game.
Being thrown out of the team was Ganguly’s usual story once after making his ODI debut and then taking up his biggest survival bid to come back to Indian team after Greg Chappel debacle and controversy.
A man who was more known for ‘I am Ganguly’ tag to become one of the most successful captains of the game, matching GOD and redefining meaning of opening batsman in ODIs, innovating and experimenting with Dravid as a Keeper, grooming youngsters and at the same time nurturing and taking along BIG5 with the best of camaraderie and making a place in the history of the game as India’s all time answer to David Gower to become GOD of offside was no less an achievement for the Prince of Kolkata.
World Cup 2011 was all the way MSD and SRT show but seeds of the championship were sown in 2003 by Dada and he almost made it to podium just to fail at last hurdle against a captain who probably was one of the most aggressive amongst rest of all Australians, Ponting.
For statistics purpose, player who was not fit for Test cricket, scored century at Lords on debut. One who could never play fast bowling, made a century on bouncy GABBA, a lethargic bowler single handedly demolished Pakistan as a ‘Secret Weapon’ for Sachin in Canada for Sahara Cup or scoring those majestic 239 runs versus Pakistan as India’s most prolific left hander. Can anyone forget all those princely ODI centuries and more than 11000 runs across the globe? Critics kept slamming Ganguly’s technique and feet movement but that elegance on the pitch silenced them and exuberated crowds to their feet at the same time.
Ultimately Maharaj is Maharaj and had he ever looked like a common man, it would have been an underestimation of the Prince Ganguly then. Ganguly was and will always remain a Maharaj(a) for all of us.
Being born to a family with golden spoon doesn’t assure success and all the sweat and hard work on the ground and off the field has made Ganguly what he is today.
Ganguly has already made commentary box, a place of his own. Future looks all set for bigger BCCI or ICC role and who knows it could turn out to be ‘Abki bar Dada Sarkar’ in West Bengal very soon.
Thanks Saurav for passing on that egoistic positivity to the next generation of cricketers making India more aggressive, focused and destined for bigger glory!
Long live the legend and long live that attitude DADA!!
P.S. The blog is written as mark of respect by a Saurav Ganguly fan and the content is a personal opinion only.
- Jayawant
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