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October
07, 2008
 Sourav
Ganguly, India's most successful Captain has shocked the
cricketing world today by announcing his retirement from
cricket in a Press Conference in Bangalore. The former Indian
Skipper said in an emotional tone that the 4-Test Series
against Australia will be his last.
Ganguly surprised everyone in the Press
Conference by making the retirement announcement towards the
end. Trying to control his emotions, Ganguly said "before I
leave, I have to make an announcement. This is going to be my
last series. I have decided to quit. These four Tests are
going to be my last. Before coming here I spoke to my
team-mates and hopefully I will go out with a winning knock."
Later, the Chairman of the new Selection Committee - Krish
Srikkanth said that Ganguly had made the right decision and
that the southpaw wanted to play with a free mind in this
series.
In what was another shocking revelation,
Sourav Ganguly confirmed that there was a threat given to him
about his daughter Sana's kidnapping. The Ganguly's house in
Kolkata had received a registered letter threatening to kidnap
Sana. Sourav on being asked by a reporter said
that "this is true but it would be better if we don't discuss
it here". Ganguly has been given Z Category security over the
years because he along with Sachin Tendulkar has been in the
hit list of Terrorists.
Coming back to Sourav Ganguly, he had made
his international debut as a teenager in India's tour of
Australia 1991/92. Ganguly played just the one ODI against
West Indies before disappearing from public memory. The left
hander made sure that he was going to make an ever lasting
impression when he did comeback in the Indian team in 1996. He
made his Test Debut at Lord's where he scored a magnificent
hundred and since then never looked back. He along with Rahul
Dravid, who also made his Test Debut at Lord's, became an
integral part of the Indian team. The fans love the way
Ganguly jumps down the track to send spinners out of the
ground. And it was his lovely strokeplay blessed with magical
timing that had made him a favourite batsman among lakhs of
fans worldwide. In 2000, he was made the Indian Skipper when
the team and also the country was shattered because of the
match fixing episode. However, in great style, Ganguly led his
new look team to great heights in the next few years. The
Indian team started to win matches on a regular basis overseas
something that was never expected in the previous years and
the players were ready to take the bull by its horn. Most of
the young players were given incredible backing by Ganguly to
make the Indian team into a real force home and abroad.
Ganguly has also been a great comeback man
in the history of sport. He made his first comeback in 1996
after four years and after a long journey found himself out of
the reckoning as his bat became slightly quiet in 2005. The
arrival of Greg Chappell as India's Coach created more
off-the-field stories than on-the-field ones and it almost
gave a premature end to Ganguly's career. But the Bengal Tiger
never gave up and found his way back into the team because of
a huge backing from all corners and Ganguly once again showed
that he still was a class act. He did considerably well in
accumulating the runs ever since his second comeback until the
Sri Lankan Series where all the fab four batsmen failed
against Ajantha Mendis. Ganguly first lost his place in the
Irani Trophy match and was most likely to be kept out of the
Australia Test Series as well. But he did find a place with
the new selection committee coming in, however, it is now
known that it is just for this one series. Every Indian fan
would be hoping that Ganguly hangs his boots on a winning note
and does continue to contribute to the sport in different
roles.
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