Ganguly's indomitable spirit

In the early fall of last year, India's just rudely discarded captain, dumped uncharitably by a palpably evil-minded coach, a noncommittal docile skipper, a prejudiced selection panel and wishy-washy BCCI officials, was perhaps wondering at the vicissitudes of life as he strolled disconsolately into the field for a Ranji trophy match for Bengal at CCI, Mumbai.

There were less than a 100 casual spectators who had sauntered in on account of free entry, the members gallery was virtually empty, the camera crew was conspicuous by it's absence, and the air around the Brabourne stadium was silent in solitude. The mood was in synchronicity with the rejected man's loneliness. . Not far away the crowds thronged, the media chased and analysts lauded the anointment of India's new coach , with the magnanimous sobriquet of Guru Greg ( Chappell). When I protested the blatant humiliation, the callous treatment, the shocking apathy being shown towards the erstwhile leader ----- there were many who thought I was only a rabid rabble-rouser. A desperate friend. A solitary buffoon on a suicidal mission. A myopic critic backing a single-legged horse. In short, a staggering exercise in futility.

I saw Sourav Ganguly as he marched in to bat with India struggling precariously at 61 for 4 at Chinnaswamy stadium in the crucial third Test at Bangalore, perhaps wondering if this will be another classic Indian choke at the penultimate hour on the brink of a historic home-series win against Pakistan. By the time the day's play concluded, the script had been brutally overhauled. His chosen one, the irrepressible Yuvraj Singh had hit a brilliant 169, and it was now left to the veteran southpaw to demonstrate his majesty. He did. As he returned back after that terrific 239 to the cheering pavilion crowd, screaming galleries and millions of happy households across the country, it was obvious that this was no Bollywood fantasy. Or a usual comeback story. This was real stuff. Of guts. Of glory. Of struggle. Of survival. Of what former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill would appropriately say, "of blood, tears, toil and sweat".

I don't need to go into nostalgia lane to pen that audacious performance in the Johannesburg Test in South Africa where the first paragraph of the return chapter got quietly etched. The rest, as they say, in the ultimate cliche of all time, is history. The fact that Ganguly even managed an elusive hundred at his home-town Eden Gardens only adds further magic and worldly charm to his indefinable fable. As is his unfathomable skill in deceiving batsmen with his innocuous pace. There is something about Sourav.

The fact that he bats at the most vital middle-order position of number five (which makes his every entry on the 22 yard pitch a "crucial one" from one or other perspective of the game), and that he has been India's highest run getter in Tests this year, makes his accomplishments even more extraordinary. He may or may not overtake Jacques Kallis to become the top notch international batsman in Tests for 2007, but Ganguly has in my opinion, helped in giving the Indian team what it had seemingly lacked post -the World Cup fiasco. An attitude. A self-belief. The indomitable spirit! And the ability to put faith over the fear of failure. He is a role model for all aspiring youngsters in any and every walk of life.

It is fitting indeed that Sourav should be playing his 100th Test match against the formidable Australians at Melbourne on December 26th 2007. It is Boxing Day. And if I can take the liberty of a deliberate twisted pun, if anybody has that deadly punch in the ring, it is Sourav Ganguly. The boxing gloves are perennially on, always ready for the most wily adversary.

Take a bow, Dada!

Your best, I believe as always, is yet to come.