Sourav Chandidas Ganguly.By all means...the main person who needs to be accredited for revolutionizing the Indian cricket.The one who led the team not merely by managing..but by leading.Off the ground..his humbleness itself could easily attract millions of followers.On the pitch..he was a class apart.He had a square drive to die for.He was termed the "God of Off side".He had a strong fighter-cum-champion attitude.He was the one who drove us into the final of 2003 World Cup.In various occasion, I was awe struck for his brave and fearless decisions.If not for his decision to declare the innings and take up a chance to bowl out Aussies at Eden gardens,Kolkata in a test match in 2001(The same one in Which laxman scored 281) the perception of a win would never have changed in the Indian cricket scenario.I also recollect another act of Lord's balcony.
It was the natwest Series Final in 2002.India vs England.I remember England scoring a huge score of 325(In those days anything above 300 was a tough target).Viru and Dada were off for a flying start.They had a century partnership.All of our family members were watching it joy fully(But dad wanted news channel :P).Things were looking pretty good.But then..the typical Indian batting order had a tale.They were habituated to fall together.And in no time..all the five special batsmen's were back in the pavilion.Just then atmosphere had changed.The match was supposedly over.(hardly minutes back..we were jumping over every boundary scored..but now disappointed faces were evident..no body in house spoke anything.By now..we had prepared to watch the full match) The world hardly knew that relatively inexperienced Yuvraj and Kaif were ready to fight the battle of their life.They had a show under their sleeve.Suddenly they started to build the innings.Tension surrounded every ball being bowled.(Frequently..camera turned towards ganguly..who was seen biting his nails and sitting with his legs on the balcony support).Things changed in no time.(When I called my friends, I gotta knew that no one was watching it and every one responded surprisingly when I told them the score..obviously..i was happy that I dint miss anything).Just then..Yuvraj top edged a catch to a fielder at short-fine leg at a score of 69.I was horrified of imagining a twist in the penultimate stage.But Kaif ensured a smooth finish. India won the match of an over-throw with few balls still remaining.(Kaif dived in for the first run..but the second run was easy)Then..the long silence erupted everywhere..in the house and in the stadium.We were jumping in amusement.Then...I saw Ganguly taking his shirt off and celebrating.Like that of a king enjoying after winning a war.He had his own expression.One of the finest pictures to store in your life-long memory.Whatever it may be...that moment will be enshrined by every Indian.
By this time...the royal Bengal tiger had collected enough fans.May be he had a special link with Lord's.(Like what Kumble had to Feroz shah Kotla)He also made his test debut there and scored a century in it.
For all the beautiful memories and trophies...for all the successful endeavors...for all the mesmerizing square drives.... Happy B'day Sourav Chandidas Ganguly!! :)
It was the natwest Series Final in 2002.India vs England.I remember England scoring a huge score of 325(In those days anything above 300 was a tough target).Viru and Dada were off for a flying start.They had a century partnership.All of our family members were watching it joy fully(But dad wanted news channel :P).Things were looking pretty good.But then..the typical Indian batting order had a tale.They were habituated to fall together.And in no time..all the five special batsmen's were back in the pavilion.Just then atmosphere had changed.The match was supposedly over.(hardly minutes back..we were jumping over every boundary scored..but now disappointed faces were evident..no body in house spoke anything.By now..we had prepared to watch the full match) The world hardly knew that relatively inexperienced Yuvraj and Kaif were ready to fight the battle of their life.They had a show under their sleeve.Suddenly they started to build the innings.Tension surrounded every ball being bowled.(Frequently..camera turned towards ganguly..who was seen biting his nails and sitting with his legs on the balcony support).Things changed in no time.(When I called my friends, I gotta knew that no one was watching it and every one responded surprisingly when I told them the score..obviously..i was happy that I dint miss anything).Just then..Yuvraj top edged a catch to a fielder at short-fine leg at a score of 69.I was horrified of imagining a twist in the penultimate stage.But Kaif ensured a smooth finish. India won the match of an over-throw with few balls still remaining.(Kaif dived in for the first run..but the second run was easy)Then..the long silence erupted everywhere..in the house and in the stadium.We were jumping in amusement.Then...I saw Ganguly taking his shirt off and celebrating.Like that of a king enjoying after winning a war.He had his own expression.One of the finest pictures to store in your life-long memory.Whatever it may be...that moment will be enshrined by every Indian.
By this time...the royal Bengal tiger had collected enough fans.May be he had a special link with Lord's.(Like what Kumble had to Feroz shah Kotla)He also made his test debut there and scored a century in it.
For all the beautiful memories and trophies...for all the successful endeavors...for all the mesmerizing square drives.... Happy B'day Sourav Chandidas Ganguly!! :)
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