The visionary who taught us if somethimg needs to be changed, then we have to set our hearts in the right place.
It was winter 1992, Indias tour of Australia was always a epic battle to look out for.The odi series started off between the mighty teams.Indian Cricket Team introduced a young left handed batsman and commentators started saying " Here comes the youngster Sourav Ganguly". He scored 3 runs in his one and only innings during the year 1992.The world never saw him and media printed some articles alleging that he had, ‘attitude problems’.It seemed like his short international carrier had ended with in no time. Sourav had a dream FC season which ultimately helped him in earning a place at Lord's test during 1996 and rest is history.
Sourav scored a brilliant test debut hundred and overnight this young champ transformed himself into a shooting star.
Sourav Ganguly International stint can be divided into pre 2003 and post 2003.Sourav Ganguly emerged and developed the dynasty with style.Be it the enormous 183 vs SL in the 99 wc or the all round performance in the Pepsi cup or the 5 year spell as the captain of Indian cricket team which changed the face of Indian cricket team.
In 2000, when Ganguly took over as skipper, he inherited Indian cricket in the midst of confusion and a crisis that was triggered by the match-fixing controversy. Everyone lacked thought process in the team with no plan and no actionable ideas. Everyone understood this is the time to bring a new change In Indian cricket.India had found a new cult figure about whom tales would abound and be passed from one generation to another. Indian cricket will never forget how Sourav made to wait Steve waugh for the toss.
In 2002, the bare-chested Ganguly stunt on the Lord's balcony was definitely game changing moment of his captaincy. Being a aggressive captain Sourav never believed in Orthodox norms and it never mattered whether it was Lord's – the Mecca of cricket.
Team India had shown a tremendous achievement during the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. An appearance in the final had come after a long gap of 20 years and Ganguly was the toast of the nation. Finally Sourav had been placed in the same league of was being Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaslar. Sourav Ganguly's century in the first Test at The Gabba in the 2003-04 tour of Australia was indubitably the game changer moment of his playing career and still considering to be one of the best turnaround in his prolific carrier.
Controversies surrounded the Indian Cricket again during 2005 when Ganguly was sacked as captain and was on verge of dropping from the national team which resulted in severe protests throughout India and Greg Chappell became a national villian in the minds of people who loved the bengal Tiger.
The following story is nothing less than a fairytale when Sourav Ganguly returned into the side with never say die attitude as he ended up being the second highest run scorer in tests and fifth highest run scorers in one dayers in 2007, thus cementing his legacy in the cricketing folklore forever which doesn't need to be written in Record books.
But the end seemed to be imminent. The day arrived on October 7, 2008 – two days prior to the start of the first Test against Australia – Sourav Ganguly told a press conference that this series would be his last in his international carrier.
Sourav as a player was brave enough to take up challenges and as a captain Sourav always stood for his players.Sourav served the Indian cricket with dignity and left a legacy which could helped the other captains to follow.
The name Sourav Ganguly, will remains a myth in India. His attitude, passion, dedication,never say die attitude,aggression, determination are part of a topsy turvy journey that encouraged millions around the world.The Chants Dadagiri will forever be remembered as an emotion in the minds of people who considers cricket as a religion.
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