Related Links : Australia in India 2008/09 | Sourav Ganguly
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.