Pushkarsinha.com

End of an era, Sourav Ganguly the best Indian Captain so far

The announcement by Saurav Ganguly of his retirement has closed one of the best-written chapters in the history of Indian Cricket. In the beginning, I was not a fan of him right from the day he broke in to the scene i.e. his selection in the Indian Cricket team. I saw him first standing on the fence carrying a towel when was not selected for one of the match and yes he was the twelfth man.

This lad from the Bengal known to be a big hitter had different vision. He came into limelight with a debut century in series in England against England and won the hearts of all Indians, especially lot of Bengalis were attached to him by then. He still is the “Sultan” of off side and as said by Geoffrey Boycott, “The Prince of Kolkata”. Whenever I used to see him dancing down the track, it was sure that the ball is going to go outside the fence.

Right after becoming the captain of Indian cricket team, he gave more chances of the luxury of dressing room to his crop of young Turks, he also made sometimes Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble sit in dressing room for his conviction Right or wrong. Ganguly was a man who stood for what he believed in.
Once India won Natwest trophy most of the people started believing in him, he was the person who along with his youthful Turks and experienced fighters like Dravid, Tendulkar took India to the Finals of World Cup. Millions of Indians living in India or abroad loved him for doing what they never could do or thought of doing. Millions found a sensational liberation in the way Sourav scripted his fairytale in the biggest stadia. Sourav Ganguly had walked on fire, Sourav Ganguly had become an icon.

At a time, when he would soon he gone, questions are buzzing. Will he remain the icon that he is today? Time is a cruel judge, history reverent, and people forgetful. I dont care, for me, Ganguly will remain the best cricketer that India has seen and produced ever.