Writing A Cricket Eulogy

With the Indian team for the first test against England being announced today, it looks like it's the end of the road for one of India's greatest captians. But is it too soon to write him a eulogy. He would want to fight back and try and stage a comeback. But with the chaiman of selectors making it clear that the team is looking toward the future, makes it almost immpossible for Saurav Ganguly to make it back into he team. So I'm writing a Eulogy although my heart feels it's a bit immmature.


Saurav Ganguly has always been measured against a different yardstick in Indian cricket.Maybe he was unfortunate to be born in the same generation as two all time greats in Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. He made his one day internation debut in 1992 where Sachin also played and unfortunately he was not ready and he failed.He was dropped from the team and at the time must have been considered another selection mistake. Four years hence at Lords the home of cricket Ganguly made his test debut against England. He was in brilliant touch and he made a spectacular century.That was the beginning of a wonderful carreer. He was to go on and become one of the most feared batsmen in the game. In 1999 in the world cup in England the astonishing innings he played against Sri Lanka at Taunton sealed his status as a great player.

In the year 2000 when the Match Fixing controversy dealt a knockout punch to International Cricket and had Indian Cricket at dead center, Ganguly was appointed Captian of India. Ganguly changed the way Indian Cricket looked and played, he brought in a type of aggression that was alien to Indians at the time. The team scaled all new heights, Youngsters got opportunites and grew into stars because Ganguly fought with selectors and made them persist with them. Players like Yuvraj, Kaif, Harbhajan all owe Sourav Ganguly a lot for where they are today. The five years Ganguly led India, the team reached the finals of the Champions Trophy twice, and were joint Champions once, reached a World Cup final, won the Natwest Trophy. Beat the world champions at home after being down 1-0 in the series, Levelled the series against them in their own backyard, beat Pakistan in Pakistan... These are no mean feats for an Indian team. He took Team India to a point where they were close to being considered the best in the world.

Rahul Dravid once called Ganguly -- God on the Off Side and that's exactly what he was... The ease with which he stroked the ball through the covers was breathtaking. The way he stepped down to the spinners and wached them for six was awe inspiring.

It is truly ironic that the team against whom he announced himself to the world is the same team against which he career might just have come to an end.

Saurav Ganguly the man will be remembered as one of India's greatest captians. Lest we forget he has over 10,000 runs in one day cricket and has the second highest number of centuries in the game. He averages over 40 in tests and has 12 centuries. He is a great player. And he should be treated as what he is a Great who has given a lot to the game.

SOURAV GANGULY BEING THE MAN THAT HE IS WILL NOT TAKE THE SELECTORS DECISION LYING DOWN AND IS BOUND TO FIGHT BACK. ALL THE BEST TO HIM.


Rahul Murali.