da mrbet： Sourav Ganguly was relieved to be cleared to play in the Kolkata Test
Chandrahas Choudhury in Kolkata27-Nov-2004
Sourav Ganguly: his captaincy is open to question as never before© AFP
Sourav Ganguly was greatly relieved yesterday when the ICC rescindedhis two-match suspension, which allowed him to play the second Test against South Africa in the Kolkata. As Ganguly noted at the pre-match press conference this morning, he had already missed four out of eight Test matches this year to injury, andhad been troubled by the prospect of having to sit out another two Tests.But there is also another reason why the captain does not want to missout on a chance to play. He is in a rather beleaguered state at the moment,and his authority is open to question as never before. But he canjustly claim to have had a major influence of shaping this Indian team, and hewants to prove that he still belongs among them, as both leader andplayer.India’s form in both Tests and one-dayers has been a distinct three orfour notches below that of last season, and there’s only so long thathe can keep fending off the charges being levelled at him by his critics.Ganguly also did he himself no favours by pulling out abruptly of theNagpur Test, and he has spent so much time on the sidelines this seasonthat he has every reason to fear that his players may grow used tobeing without him.There could be nothing better for Ganguly in the short-term than avictory, something to clear the darkening clouds of dissatisfaction andresentment that have built around in the cricket-watching public’sperception of Team India. Critics have asked if he still has thepassion and the energy for the captaincy, a draining task at the best of times.He needs to answer them with results. He could also do with a big score,as it has been a year – Brisbane in early December 2003 – since hisbatting had a major effect on a Test match, and also because his record atKolkata has been poor. Even though he is a veteran, he probably has more atstake in the game than anyone else.It is not without reason that Ganguly’s critics say that the time hascome to give up the top job to another man. It is possible that even some ofthose sympathetic to Ganguly might believe this is the course of actionthat is best for him. Captaining the Indian side, absorbing theintense scrutiny and measuring up to the expectations of millions ofpassionate followers must be the toughest assignment in world cricket,and not something the strain of which a man can bear for more than afew years.An example of this was witnessed by this writer this very morning.After a stint at nets, Ganguly walked off the ground and into the pavilion. Agroup of people, perhaps about 70 strong, had managed to get into theground to watch the players, and as Ganguly passed below they made arush for the railings, calling out: "Dada! Dada! Dada!"Why were they calling out in such a frenzy to a man occupied with his work and with a dozen important things on his mind? For a wave of the bat in return,perhaps, or some other mark of acknowledgement – some little thing totake away as a sign that they had been in proximity to the captain of India,and shared some interaction with him.Sometimes it must seem to Ganguly as if all of India is on its toes,shouting at him in many accents: "Dada! Dada! Dada!" Can he continue tosteer his way through the tumult for much longer? We shall know – maybenot at Kolkata, but soon enough.