Destiny is distinct, destiny is distinguished.
See here for threesome.
For Michael Vaughn it’s DELIRIOUS DELIGHTFUL. For RICKY PONTING it’s DESPERATE, DESERTING, for saurav Ganguly, it looks total DESPAIR.
In short for Englishmen its DAWN time, for Aussieman its huge cloud cover, may be passing cloud but for Indian well its time to set may be.
It’s been long 13 yeas travel of for saurav ganguly with plenty of hairpin curves like F1 race.
At this point of time everybody is including him is unsure of what’s next?
He is on most important curve of lifetime as sport person.
BACK or FORTH?
Meantime his journey so far…
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Phase1
He is born fighter. From forgettable tour of Australia'' 92, he fought back very strongly in 96 with back-to-back famous centuries.
And he wrote separate page for himself and Indian cricket ever since he has led Indian side from 2000.
Different challenges were waiting for him at different times, after all fighter chases challenges and vice versa.
Combination of Sachin giving up job as a leader and MATCH FIXING scandal, it was twofold task for saurav.
To go with carrying team through his bat he was shouldered with huge additional responsibilities.
1.To lead the team 2.To build team from the scratch.
And its undeniable truth that he did it successfully.
By record, by leadership skills he is one of the India’s best ever captain and he certainly built team India.
He backed talents like SEHWAG, HARBHAJAN, YUVRAJ, and KAIF.
He took imaginative decisions like SEHWAG as opening batsman in both forms, 7-batsman formula in one day, which produced one of the best periods for India in one-day cricket.
He LED team India, which certainly gave some of the biggest celebration times in Indian cricket.
Australia series 2001,WC 2003,Australia down under than 2003-2004 and PAKISTAN 2004.
Under his captaincy, team registered their wins outside India after decades.
It includes WORLD CUP. After first two matches, we saw different team and they came up with one of all time best performance outside subcontinent whether it was ONE-DAY OR TEST.
On the biggest stage to perform, director stood up to it.
And credit should go to him since he was architect of that team.
Afterwards He took Steve Waugh’s warriors and inzamam”s boys BULL BY HORNS.
Ultimately he did stimulate boys and came up with that performance in Australia and Pakistan, which any Indian could not see for decades.
As a non-captain: From early days he has been most remembered for his stylish graceful stroke play.
Then there was a time when Sachin Tendulkar used him has secret weapon with ball in his hand.
And as season after season-gone bye, he became one of the all time best batsmen in ONE-DAY CRICKET.
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Phase 2
During Australia series 2001 he had long drought for runs, eventually he made up for it with some memorable batting in SA.
But since then he has been having continuously lean time in TEST cricket, playing from 96, missing hardly any test in between, only 14 centuries are not enough, His one day form has been also continuously declining in last few seasons.
Performance against Big Boys like Pakistan, Aussie, and kiwis has been disappointing.
Match after match he kept getting out with short ball, it then became regular viewing.
And fresh century against Zimbabwe raised questions rather than answering critics.
So in reference to that century also and current whole situation it’s no win situation for him.
Its not coincidence, its destiny. AND probably he has to accept now. All circumstances suggest that.
So it has been descending journey in most of the second half with bat also and loosing 15 finals and home series against Aussie.
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As a leader I don’t know if somebody can reach his heights, it will be remain to see but as a batsman honestly for a long time he doesn’t deserve a place.
At this point of the time, he stands along with NASSER HUSSAIN and STEVE WAUGH.
Choosing OWN TIME TO SET ON THE SCENE.
NASSER hit brilliant match winning hundred and left spot for Strauss, Waugh hit match saving 80 to leave spot for Clarke.
So here is good chance for saurav to imitate them, otherwise it will be remain to see whether he will rediscover himself like warne after a yearlong ban or he will have to face disappointment of losing last battle.
SO What next? Its Big Indian enigma remains to be seen.
Either one of 3
:-> he can imitate Hussein
:-> We can see one of all time personal comeback of sport personality if he comes back strongly
:->Worst. Receiving treatment like Wasim akram even after serving for long time getting kicked out in sad manner.
So choice is his. Probably he can avoid last one. That’s better Otherwise people only remember him for his descendant period.
He can look up to famous quote from Vijay Merchant (Indian batting legend), he once said
“It’s better to quit when people will ask you why are you quitting rather than wait for people to start asking why you are not quitting? ''
So he can imitate Nasser Hussein and merchant, End on high note.
Building team was his source of inspiration in 2000;Debacle in first two matches in WC 2003 was source to bring out amazing performance on biggest stage, in 2003 his century was source of inspiration for others in Australia. This time may be Nasser Hussein. Or who knows may be WARNE after ban?
This enigma remains to be seen.
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LAST WORD:
WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT, STILL FOREVER HE WILL BE (AND MUST BE)
REMEMBERED FOR PASSION, AGGRESSION, IMAGINATION, STYLISH STROKEPLAY,
AND
ENGINEERING OF ''TEAM INDIA'' OF TALENT.
cheers.
