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In 1992, a young left-handed batsman, fresh from his exploits in the 1990-91 Ranji season, made his international debut against the West Indies. He was immediately thrust into the limelight – for all the wrong reasons. Questions arose about his commitment and dedication, and he was dropped almost instantly after his debut. He vowed to make a comeback, and did it in his own inimitable style.
His name? Sourav Chandidas Ganguly.
Circa 2000. Indian cricket was in shambles, rattled due to the match-fixing saga. Incumbent captain Sachin Tendulkar had stepped down due to fixing controversy, and the side hadn’t been performing too well contrary to the huge expectations of the cricket-crazed Indian public. Key players such as Ajay Jadeja and Mohammad Azharuddin had been banned for their alleged involvement in fixing games for money. Further, there was a bit of a “negative mindset” among the team members, disheartened as they were by all the off-field drama. Such was the state of affairs when the BCCI anointed Ganguly to lead the side, elevating him from his previous position as vice-captain. As luck would have it, the ICC Knockout Trophy (now known as the Champions Trophy) was just around the corner, and it would be the first major ICC event that the Bengal southpaw would captain his team in.
The first signs of a well-oiled, cohesive unit under a new leader were visible in the quarter-final against Australia. With Dada at the helm, youngsters Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan brought in the never-say-die spirit that would be a hallmark of Team India for the next five years or so. Ganguly’s aggressive approach to cricket reflected in his captaincy as well, as the Indians fielded like panthers, thereby stunning the powerful Aussies. The captain was rightly credited with finding and nurturing this new breed of players who would eventually go on to become vital cogs in the Indian wheel.
In the semifinal against South Africa, Sourav produced what would easily be his second favourite innings of a glorious career – an unbeaten 141 against the likes of Donald, Pollock, Kallis and Klusener. His knock was laced with 11 fours and 6 huge sixes – all struck in his trademark style: right foot out of the way, shoulders opening up and immaculate hand-eye coordination. The bowling attack of the defending champions had never been such brutally assaulted before in this tournament. Yet Ganguly did it. His purpose was not only to steer India to a huge score, but also to play the game on equal terms against his more-fancied opponents: unflinching in the face of hostile bowling, unyielding when confronted by pressure, and to fight till the last ball. A decade ago, this would have been unthinkable. But with the world stepping into the new millennium, that had changed. And Dada had heralded this change – no longer would his team roll over against the top sides of the world. He would go on to score another hundred in the final against NZ, a game his side lost thanks to all-rounder Chris Cairns’s brilliance.
In the next edition in 2002, he unveiled another talented young batsman at the opening slot – Virender Sehwag. The quarter-final against England remains etched in my mind as the Bengal Tiger and his protege went about their task of chasing down 269. The English had witnessed the strength of Team India before – in the historic final of the 2002 Natwest Series. As Sehwag demolished the England bowling with his free-flowing strokeplay, Ganguly was content to play second fiddle. He changed gears once the youngster was dismissed, and raced to yet another hundred, finishing things with a trademark six and a boundary. Once again, the English had been tamed, and Dada had masterminded their downfall. He did that through a combination of cricketing skill and astute leadership. These two traits stood him in good stead for the remainder of his career.
There will no longer be a Champions Trophy tournament in the future. Fans no longer see the “Maharaja” take the field in India colours, play those expansive shots that characterized his batting throughout his career, or anger opposition captains with his delay in arriving for the toss. Nevertheless, if there is one player who has made a mark on the ‘Mini World Cup’, it is Sourav Chandidas Ganguly – the Thunder Warrior. He taught them how to fight till the end, and gave the people new hope in the team.
It is said that the West was built on legends. The Champions Trophy editions of 2000 and 2002, however, were built on one single legend: Dada. A fighter, a true leader, and a fierce competitor – a true Royal Bengal Tiger!
