Will Sourav Learn?

This piece written during World Cup'2003 is refurbished and published here!!!

Ganguly is the most arrogant, egoistic and non-thinking cricketer to have stepped on a cricket field for all the silken grace he displays when in prime cricketing form. His contribution as a batsman and captain counted for nothing (except his ton against the lowly Kenya) in our world cup campaign in 2003. Thanks to guys like Sachin, Dravid, Srinath, Nehra and Yuvaraj, we made it to the FINALS, only to lose badly owing to the utterly bad decision he made by putting Aussies into bat and not opting for a champion bowler like Anil Kumble, known for his "big match" temperament! He can't escape by saying that it was a TEAM decision, opting to field.

Why the hell did Sourav give himself a second spell in the key World cup match against England (though we won that match thanks to Nehra's superlative effort)? May be, just to get some cheap tailender wickets against his name! Sachin or Sehwag would have been a better alternative, any day !!! His blind support for the out-of-form Mongia defied all logic, when Agarkar and Bangar were begging to be given an opportunity for valuable match practice !?!?! Yuvaraj or Kaif should have been sent ahead of Mongia in the Ind-Eng match if our captain had displayed little more intelligence and had learnt his lessons properly from the earlier Ind-Zim match !?!?!?

It is utterly foolish of him to be so stubborn that his thinking is always correct, when reputable cricket analysts like Sunny, Sidhu and Shastri were airing diameterically opposite views. He even called the cricketers-turned-commentators a bunch of "Jokes", for criticizing him during our World cup campaign. A good captain needs to listen alike to both admirers and critics and should be willing to "take and try" the good points on offer.

Ganguly's arrogance and small mindedness were the main reasons for his refusal to give up the opening slot (when he was so pathetically out of form !?!?) to Sachin till he was forced by a public outcry to do so. Results immediately showed, when Sachin and Sehwag started opening !!!!! The so called Bengal tiger (actually a CAT!) must know that by trying to belittle a cricketing genius like Sachin, he is only belittling himself and harming the team cause. He has no business to do such a thing as the team is not his private property but represents our nation of many cricket lovers. It is high time Sourav keeps his mouth shut, keeps his cool, tries to value others' opinion, concentrates more on improving his cricketing skills, shows due respect to Sachin, Dravid and starts behaving in a manner befitting the cricket captain of India !!!! Let us see how he and the team perform in the ICC Champions trophy without the pivotal Sachin Tendulkar!?!?