Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Farewell to the Talisman

Long awaited Talisman, the aggression for which whole India awaited. Steadfast son retires from the battle of cricket. He banged into the scene 17 years ago rather faltered in the first step, but came back mighty strongly in 1996 at lords where he scripted a grand return with two back to back splendid centuries.

From that time he never had to look back, although had to face many obstacles. But the fighter was never bogged down and lived to play many battles. With another maestro Sachin tendulkar, Ganguly were the two players who single handled won many matches for India.

Time came; nation’s passion got indulged into grubby controversy of betting. Seniors like Azharuddin, Jadeja were forced to leave the game.Sachin was not up to the mark as a captain. Indian cricket was in shambles. It needed a leader who put the much needed aggression and passion into the game. There came Ganguly and boy, did not he change the face of the game.

Ganguly known as an aggressive captain much debated character who knew how to throw the ball back to opponents. His nexus with Aussie captain Steven Waugh is well known.Ganguly nurtured a young brigade like Harbhajan,Sehwag,Yuvraj,Zahir and all who have now become the backbone of the Indian cricket team.

Let’s give a standing ovation to the man who played royally till last day and surely was a talisman who was long awaited for.