If I had to name Sourav Ganguly’s autobiography, it would simply be “Dada” as people like calling him. The tagline would be ‘Rise fall and Rise,’ describing his journey not only as a cricketer but as a leader, a coach and now a president.
“It all started with Dada’s team”: Virat didn’t shy away from lauding if not the greatest then one of the most impactful captains in India’s cricketing history. After playing and eventually winning their first D/N test match, the entire Indian dressing room was thankful to the president of Board Of Control For Cricket in Indian (BCCI)- Mr. Sourav Chandidas Ganguly.
The Kolkata batsman’s immense contributions to the Indian cricket fraternity include getting players out of the 2000 low, investing in the young crop to build a futuristic team (the ones who won the 2011 World Cup) and also winning matches with an aggressive brand of cricket.
“Everybody says that it’s the most iconic moment. But I wouldn’t do it again. My daughter sees it asks why did you do that and I say because I was happy. I came from a very conservative and shy Bengali family. It just happened in the heat of the moment,” Dada will never forget the NatWest tri-series final match when he took off his shirt to celebrate India’s two-wicket win over England.
Now when this left-handed batsman doesn’t play any form of professional cricket, the country has hired his skills to do much more to Indian cricket than just captaining or batting. He is the president of BCCI, the body that governs all cricket in India. Bigger is the challenge and stake but dada accepted all of it wearing a soothing smile. During this administrative tenure of mere 9 months, he’ll surely want to make some changes in the system and a few of those changes are mentioned here:
1) Prepare to win a title, and not just majority matches in a World Cup:
The last time India won a major title was in 2013 when M.S.Dhoni led a young bunch of cricketers to win the Champions Trophy in England. After being the favorites in the 2015 one day World Cup, in the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and super favorites in the 2019 World Cup, India have failed to win a single title. Sourav would want to build a team core for the Twenty20 World Cup next year.
2) Counter ICC’s snub with BCCI:
The marriage between ICC and the Indian governing body hasn’t worked well owing to cold arguments and silent stabbing persistent for years. Mr. Ganguly will have to work 200% to stabilize this relationship because of the interdependence factor playing here.
3) “Conflict of interest”:
This clause by the Supreme Court has disturbed many Indian greats who have been trying to make a difference to Indian cricket. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman have bent under this clause for their IPL connections. Sourav Ganguly himself was troubled when his term as Delhi Capitals coach was questioned.
4) Revamp:
Test cricket in India has to be shaped into a better form, as beautiful as it used to look with packed stadiums. The pink ball test was a great initiative but this has to keep happening to keep the longest format living in glee.
5) Indian women’s team:
Test cricket revamped would be incomplete if it doesn’t include Harmanpreet Kaur’s sixes. The women’s cricket team has to start playing test cricket. The last time they took on the ground in whites was 2014 against England.
“Lord’s is your Mecca, and Wankhede is ours!” Ganguly made clear to an English cricketer.
Thanks, dada for always being around.
