Dadagiri ki Jai !!!

In 1996, ESPN had just about entered the Indian television space. They had the exclusive telecast rights of India's tour of England that year. Most cable operators refused to relay ESPN and I didn’t get to see the entire tour. For some strange reason, I didn’t know much about that tour. I had no clue what the team composition was and all the hype surrounding it. The tour happened a few months after India’s tearful exit from the World Cup at the Eden gardens. Probably that’s why I wasn’t even following the tour in the news or papers. Even after the tour had concluded, the name “Saurav Ganguly” didn’t strike a lot of excitement. I had read in the papers that he scored back to back hundreds, however I hadn’t seen or followed those knocks live on television; it didn’t generate the same enthusiasm.

Nevertheless, it was much later that I understood the uniqueness of what Saurav had accomplished in that tour. It probably was the most bizarre sequence of events which led to his arrival. Having being dumped after one tour game in the 92 aussie tour, he was making a comeback to the Indian side. His selection for the tour had sparked off wide spread accusations of it being political and zonal. It may or may not be true, but no one in their wildest dreams would have expected what was to follow. Navjot Sidhu returned home from the tour claiming he was humiliated and Manjrekar was injured. This opened the gates into the first team for Saurav and Rahul. The innings Saurav played in Lords, was a shocker. I call it a shocker coz he probably hadn’t played so well ever before. His brother and Bengal teammates later confessed that they didn’t know he could bat in that fashion. Everyone was stunned. But not Saurav. After being picked in the first team, he was supposedly told by many that if he failed in the test match, he would probably never play for India again. This was how a debutant was encouraged in the 90’s. Ironically it was he who changed all that a few years on. He confessed later that never once did he think of failure, when he was batting. Maybe it was easier for him to think that way, since he was a Prince, born with a silver spoon. If he failed he could still go back and lead a privileged life. But he wasn’t a loser. He batted like he was possessed with the desire to prove all wrong and produced the most stunning debut performance ever seen. Saurav Ganguly had arrived and many had to stitch their lips.

The next 4 years in his career was something of a phenomenon. He formed a lethal opening partnership with Tendulkar in ODI’s and averaged in the mid 50’s in Tests. Heck, he even got 5 wicket hauls. He seemed to play with a kind of passion and aggression, never visible in an Indian cricketer before. No wonder then, he was given the captaincy after match fixing had infected Indian cricket. The public had lost faith in its team. India needed to start fresh. Saurav was the perfect choice.

Somehow the team under him seemed to show more interest. It all started in Nairobi, against Australia in the Champions trophy. India played with the “Im not afraid, I’m here to Win” attitude. Even Sachin Tendulkar (who had taken enough verbals from the aussies in 99) gave it back to Mcgrath after smashing him for 2 sixes. The look on McGrath’s face is legendary. Never before had an Indian player given it back. In fact a year back in Australia, Srinath apologized to Ricky Ponting after hitting him on the helmet, only to see punter bark back the 4 letter words. Srinath looked stunned, but did not utter a word. Some may say Srinath was dignified, but it affected the team. It gave the impression the team was intimidated and not courageous enough to stand up against nonsense, mainly coz they didn’t have the confidence to back the talk with performance. Ganguly changed all that. Every youngster making the team was not told he would go back home if he failed. He was encouraged to play the way that got him there and he will be given a fair run. This is a simple art of sport which is well known theoretically, but very rarely done practically. In any sport, confidence brings out the performance. Ganguly changed the way India played its cricket. Pride for the India cap, passion, aggression and fearlessness - these were the basics on which the team was built. The results came soon. 2001 series against Aus, 2002 in West Indies & England, Natwest Series, 2003 WC, 04 in Australia & Pakistan. Results which were never expected a few years earlier were beginning to happen. Slowly but surely India had started to win Tests abroad and were creating a reputation of being a strong team. No wonder then, Ganguly’s biggest achievement was as captain rather than a player. Ganguly had become the “Dada” of the team. This took its toll though. Dada had grown into such a powerful leader and in his quest to improve the team, lost focus on his own game and fitness. His status carried him through for a year, but not for long. The team was now established and they had learnt the mantra to succeed. It was just a matter of going out there and doing it consistently. Dada’s batting had suffered and he was rightfully dropped, though the manner of ousting was deplorable.

It is never easy for a leader to demand performance from his players, when his own performance is below par for an extended period. But a good leader deserves to be treated with respect. Greg Chappell’s scathing email reached the media (shows the high degree of professionalism BCCI maintains) and Dada was publicly humiliated. Most of Greg’s criticisms’ of Dada may have been right, but it needed to be handled professionally. Both Greg and in particular BCCI lacked it. All of Dada’s work in the last 8 yrs was forgotten. Dada was down in the dumps. Courageous Leader to forgotten man, quite a steep fall. No one gave him an iota of chance to comeback. The Dada chapter was closed. Yeah right!

It would have been easy to give up and announce retirement. After all everything was against him. But a fighter never lies down. Determination and will to succeed were his strengths. He went back to Ranji with the sole aim to regain his place. Not surprisingly barring a few initial hiccups, Dada was back among the runs. His determination was evident from the Pepsi ad in which he says, “Main Saurav Ganguly, boole toh nahin” What amazed me was the fact that he had the guts to do an ad of that nature, practically announcing he’s gonna comeback. Some may call it cheap, some brave. Well, evoking extreme reactions was Dada’s pastime.

When you have the will, there will always be a way. The once closed doors to the Indian team were beginning to re-open. The youngsters inducted were too raw and it didn’t help that captain Dravid was not as pro-active as he probably should have been to guide them. Colonel Vengsarkar decided it was time to get back the man he dropped as captain. SA 2006, Dada walks into to bat in the warm up game on a lively pitch with the scoreboard reading 40 for 4/5 wickets. He rescues the team from folding up and plays a classy innings. Grabbing the opportunity presented is an art well mastered by him. He ended up being India’s highest run scorer of the tour. He had changed too, happy keeping to himself. The steely resolve within still existed, but the aggression was not visible. It was like he had attained peace. There was nothing more left to prove.

He continued his brilliant batting for another 2 years. One bad series in Sri Lanka saw him dropped from the Irani trophy squad. It seemed like the curtains were drawn on Dada’s career. Many thought so. I didn’t, I knew for sure he would play against Australia. (A certain Mr Sachin is proof that I said this) This was surely not the way a glittering career was going to end. He was destiny’s favorite child. Something was bound to happen. He deserved a better farewell. It did indeed happen. The selection committee was changed, and the lovable Chika was appointed the chairman. Talk of writing the perfect script. No surprises then, Dada was in the team. One could call this another mini-comeback. Dada decided to announce retirement, timing the moment as sweetly as his cover drive.

The burden was off his shoulders. He could enjoy his last 4 tests. What’s more, it was against his favorite opponents. He got a 100 and 85 in the tests that India went on to win. Never mind the golden duck in his last innings. You could have expected the anti-climax. Dhoni’s wonderful gesture to let Dada captain for the last few moments of his career showed the respect he commanded. After all Dhoni is a student of the ‘Dada school of Cricket’. It brought an end to the career of India’s finest left hand batsmen and more importantly the most influential captain in Indian cricket. Dada’s short speech during his felicitation along with Kumble was one I’ll never forget. He spoke with assurance and dignity. His parting line "During the journey, I made both friends and enemies but it was all for the good of Indian cricket” probably sums him up.

He will forever be remembered as the cricketer who truly changed the face of Indian cricket and for good.

THANK YOU DADA

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-Ocbe4Imk