An ode to Sourav Ganguly—‘ The Phoenix’
As the cricket fraternity and fans all over bid adieu to the transformer of Indian cricket—Sourav Ganguly, I also couldn’t help stopping myself from joining the bandwagon to pay ode to this legend of Indian cricket who no longer will be seen wearing the Indian tri-colours on the cricket field.
With the conclusion of the 2008 Border-Gavaskar trophy, the hugely successful though quite eventful career of Sourav Ganguly came to a halt as the southpaw announced retirement from all forms of international cricket.
Farewells are always an emotional affair where there is a tinge of disappointment of going. However huge this loss (retirement of Sourav Ganguly) may be to the Indian cricket, on a personal front, it will be a monumental loss as I saw and admired Ganguly not only as a cricketer but a big role model.
I still have vivid memories of Sourav who broke onto the international cricket arena with an indelible century on debut that made the world sit and take note of this ‘Prince of Kolkata’. I can recapitulate those moments when I first heard about ‘Dada’--- It was the Lords test in 1996. I didn’t have any cable connection that time. So my only source of cricket updates used to be the Doordarshan news. I was busy writing my project report when my grandfather asked me to rush to the drawing room where he was listening to the DD news. That was the time when I first saw the images of Sourav Ganguly. The video clipping showing Sourav caressing the off side for a boundary and reaching to a magnificent century marked with exceptional class, tremendous grit and princely elegance is still etched in my memory.
With the passage of time, he grew from strength to strength to strength and his stature in the cricketing history of our cricket-frenzy nation continued to reach new heights. In between records stumbled and Sourav Ganguly became synonymous with success and aggression. But his cricket credentials are not the only reasons why I would always remember him. Sourav Ganguly will always be my hero, my idol for his determination, grit, never-say-die-attitude and resilience. He taught us how to make ‘comebacks’ despite all odds being against you. He taught us to always keep our chin up even when we have our backs to the wall and sail through the troubled waters even when the whole world turns against us.
The world may have christened him as ‘Dada’, ‘Bengal Tiger, ‘Prince of Kolkata’, ‘Maharaja’. But for me he’ll always be a ‘PHEONIX’—a true fighter who literally rose form the ashes fighting all adversaries. The fact that he’s leaving on a high gives more pleasure to his fans and well-wishers than maybe himself. He truly deserves every bit of praise and accolades he’s getting for serving and literally transforming Indian cricket into a world power in cricket. Sourav Ganguly will surely be missed.
Wishing Sourav a happy and successful life post cricket!
As the cricket fraternity and fans all over bid adieu to the transformer of Indian cricket—Sourav Ganguly, I also couldn’t help stopping myself from joining the bandwagon to pay ode to this legend of Indian cricket who no longer will be seen wearing the Indian tri-colours on the cricket field.
With the conclusion of the 2008 Border-Gavaskar trophy, the hugely successful though quite eventful career of Sourav Ganguly came to a halt as the southpaw announced retirement from all forms of international cricket.
Farewells are always an emotional affair where there is a tinge of disappointment of going. However huge this loss (retirement of Sourav Ganguly) may be to the Indian cricket, on a personal front, it will be a monumental loss as I saw and admired Ganguly not only as a cricketer but a big role model.
I still have vivid memories of Sourav who broke onto the international cricket arena with an indelible century on debut that made the world sit and take note of this ‘Prince of Kolkata’. I can recapitulate those moments when I first heard about ‘Dada’--- It was the Lords test in 1996. I didn’t have any cable connection that time. So my only source of cricket updates used to be the Doordarshan news. I was busy writing my project report when my grandfather asked me to rush to the drawing room where he was listening to the DD news. That was the time when I first saw the images of Sourav Ganguly. The video clipping showing Sourav caressing the off side for a boundary and reaching to a magnificent century marked with exceptional class, tremendous grit and princely elegance is still etched in my memory.
With the passage of time, he grew from strength to strength to strength and his stature in the cricketing history of our cricket-frenzy nation continued to reach new heights. In between records stumbled and Sourav Ganguly became synonymous with success and aggression. But his cricket credentials are not the only reasons why I would always remember him. Sourav Ganguly will always be my hero, my idol for his determination, grit, never-say-die-attitude and resilience. He taught us how to make ‘comebacks’ despite all odds being against you. He taught us to always keep our chin up even when we have our backs to the wall and sail through the troubled waters even when the whole world turns against us.
The world may have christened him as ‘Dada’, ‘Bengal Tiger, ‘Prince of Kolkata’, ‘Maharaja’. But for me he’ll always be a ‘PHEONIX’—a true fighter who literally rose form the ashes fighting all adversaries. The fact that he’s leaving on a high gives more pleasure to his fans and well-wishers than maybe himself. He truly deserves every bit of praise and accolades he’s getting for serving and literally transforming Indian cricket into a world power in cricket. Sourav Ganguly will surely be missed.
Wishing Sourav a happy and successful life post cricket!
