Netizens React to KKR Dropping Ganguly

Sourav may not be retained by KKR for IPL4

An unconfirmed news report about the Kolkata based IPL team Kolkata KnightRiders(KKR) not retaining ex-Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly for the 4th season of the IPL has caused unrest among his fans. Sourav Ganguly, one of the legends of the game, who has a large fan base has already indicated that he is open for playing for any IPL team in case KKR doesn’t retain him. Ganguly’s fans have already expressed their unhappiness on several online platforms that include Social networking websites like Facebook, Orkut and twitter etc., online forums etc. Not just Sourav’s fans but most of the Indian ‘netizens’(a term used to describe the internet users) have expressed disbelief and anger over such a decision by KKR. As per reports, KKR is planning to let Sourav go to auction pool again and pick him up from the auction with a lower price ‘if there is any unrest among the fans’. Going by the initial response of the fans, the days ahead are extremely crucial for KKR administration to handle.

The news of KKR not retaining Sourav Ganguly came on the 30th November and became a topic of discussion on most discussion forum. On twitter, the term ‘Ganguly’ became a trending topic(must talked topic) for India. Some strong tweets from fans began to pour in. Take this tweet as example: @a_traveller: “Bleedin’ hell, KKR got rid of Ganguly? He was the only reason I was rooting for that team!!!”. Some fans of Dada started asking Team owner Shahrukh Khan about this decision and blamed Shahrukh for the mess in the team. Here is one such tweet: @snehashisk “@iamsrk Why r u guys dropping Ganguly… He was the best player for KKR last IPL !!! Shocking !!!”

Even some Cricket admirers expressed shock over this decision and was amazed that how a former Indian cricketer who was the 4th highest run getter in the 3rd season of the IPL is being humiliated by the cricket authorities. Someone tweeted, “MI retains IPL3 highest run getter, CSK retains 3rd highest run getter, @KKRiders drops IPL3 4th highest rungetter.”

Not just twitter, even on Facebook fan groups started buzzing with message of solidarity with Sourav. Some strong message like “IF KKR DROPS DADA….DADA FANS WILL DROP SRK FROM BOLLYWOOD !!” were posted on the groups and hundreds of ‘likes’ and comments poured in. On Orkut communities too the fans vented the anger towards the KKR authority and the team owner Shahrukh Khan.

The decision not to retain Ganguly in KKR may be a step to cut costs, but if the responses from the fans and cricket lovers give any reference then KKR may have to do explaining jobs to its fans after the final list of the retained players are out on the December 5th. As the city of Kolkata is emotionally attached with ‘Dada’, KKR may loose a large chunk of its fans if it plays in IPL without the ‘most successful captain of India’. KKR authority must remember how the Kolkata city fans supported South Africa over India in the fourth ODI of the India vs South Africa series in 2005. KKR may not want the repeat of such incidents.

[Image Courtesy: Cricinfo]