Today was the last day of the Nagpur Test match between India and Australia. Why I am mentioning it is because it also happens to be the last day in Saurav Ganguly's Test career for Team India. And what a remarkable send off by the team. A victory over Australia! The whole world will remember that Saurav Ganguly retired on a winning note when the Indian team wrested the Airtel Border Gavaskar Trophy from reigning world champions - Australia.
It has been one long journey for the Boy from Behala.
I happened to stay a few streets away in Behala in late 2000 for few months. Dada's house was slightly away but the whole area was known as the place where Saurav Ganguly lives.
What is remarkable about this successful captain and cricketer of India is that he brought out the aggression in the team and its members. Yes, it is a gentleman's game but does it seem so when the Aussies or the Proteases play.
Look at the swagger and the bullying attitude of the Aussies. Today they are so hurt and disoriented by the Indian attitude of fighting back that happened after Monkeygate in Australia is palpable from the fact that even now people like Gilly, Ponting and Symmo are talking about it. I am sure they are not able to forget it and remember the incident each night they go to sleep. :) Somewhere Saurav is responsible for making the team fight back and not take things lying down. Captains should not be like the decent front bencher school boy who is always in the teacher's good books but a wily fellow who works with and for the team and ensures that they win. Dhoni also is showing lot of promise in these lines.
The TV channels will be showing his bare chested t-shirt dance in Lords for sometime now and then everything will die down but the legend called Prince of Calcutta will live on in the minds and hearts of Indian cricket lovers for a long time.
I wish him all the very best for his future and hope he has a great post-cricket life both professionally as well as a family man.
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