Today (Nov 09,2008) would be last day of Dada in International Cricket and a very sad day for fans all over the world. He made debut in ODIs in 1992 in West Indies and it went almost unnoticed, but his Test Debut was the best that any player could have – back to back centuries in first two innings, first at Lords and then at Tent Bridge. Rest is history, he went on to become the most successful Test and ODI captain for India. He is 
responsible in transforming the Indian Cricket Team mostly in shatters after match-fixing scandal into ‘Team India’, the team that reached the World Cup Finals in 2003. He is the one who changed the way Indians used to play cricket, he added aggression and innovation to cricket and taught everyone how to fight against odds. He brought the positive/winning attitude to the team that has been missing for more than 50 years. He proved to everyone that its not just talent but believing in oneself or team that wins the match.
He would always be remembered as the God of off-side, no one in Cricketing world can hit off-side shots with such accuracy and confidence. There was a time when 6 players used to be put in off-side to protect boundaries during field restrictions. Once he developed his leg-side shots he was unstoppable and went on to become second highest run scorer (ODIs). If someone asks me what is the image of Ganguly in my mind, it would have to be Dada coming down the track and hitting a high and long six of Muralitharan, it was such a beauty. The best spinner in world, bowling in conditions very good for spin bowling and still Ganguly can smash him all over the ground.
Another important part of his batting was his chemistry with Sachin Tendulkar. For long time Indian cricket struggled to find perfect combination for ODI openers, but when chance was given to Sachin and Sourav they went on become the most successful openers in the world and have many records on their name. Since both of them are aggressive players it would be hard to complement each other or restrict oneself when other player is taking risks, but he did that perfectly. As a kid when I used to watch cricket, I will never sit down for first 15 overs when Sachin and Sourav were playing, they played some of the best cricket I have seen in my life.
Dada and controversies are synonyms to each other, but most of them are media created than real. When he took of his shirt after winning at Lords in finals of Natwest Trophy 2002, many people criticized him saying it should not be done in gentlemen’s game, but I enjoyed it completely and saw it as a warning to world cricket – Indian cricket team has arrived and we are going to win the 2003 World Cup.
In late 2006 he was dropped from both ODI and test forms considering his bad form and some argument with current coach Greg Chappell. It was a huge disappointment for fans and it seemed he would never return back to International cricket. I still has the hope till I saw the Pepsi ad just before the World Cup 2007, where Dada was sitting in empty stadium and delivering the line “apne dada is baar maanange naa”. It was a big blow for me and I thought it to be end of his career. But just in few months he did the unthinkable, he was back to cricket and scripted the most amazing come back in Indian cricket – by scoring highest runs in test series against South Africa and man of the series awards against Sri Lanka.
For me the most memorable Ganguly innings have to be 238 against Pakistan in Bangalore[2008] (where I was at the stadium), 183 vs Sri Lanka at WC99, 144 vs Australia [2000-01], His first innings at Lords, His excellent bowling performance vs Pakistan in Sahara Cup and 124 against Pakistan at Independence up final in Dhaka (where Kanitkar hits a 4 to win the match).
It sad he is retiring today, but we respect his decision and don’t want to create controversy by saying someone might have forced him to retire. Its more than 10 years that we have seen you playing and we will miss that.
(Photo by RB, Bangalore Test, Oct 2008)
