Just another blog?

(Apologies to those who dont follow cricket!)

Is it the end of Sourav Ganguly, the Prince of Calcutta, the Maharaja of Bengal, the Lord of the Off-Side?

Ganguly has been in horrendous form for years now, and yet his overall stats look stupendous. He is still in the top ten of all-time greats in one-day cricket and has quite a handy test record. And as a captain, the greatest India has had!

But, he had to go. Cold logic meant that the selectors had to drop him to blood a few youngsters. The possibility that the Indian selectors might have stumbled upon this 'right' decision purely as a political move is still very likely.

That the hypocritical tabloids (like TimesofIndia) which were baying for his blood sometime back are now crying foul is nauseating.

When in form, Ganguly is a better batsman to watch than Lara, Tendulkar and Gilchrist. No doubts there. But, it looks highly unlikely he can get there anymore. He says he will fight - but age is not on his side.

He was definitely a far better one-day player, a naturally attacking player, and India's one day side does not need him anymore. It was only right that an aging (though solid) Test middle-order now needs to bring in Yuvraj and Kaif so that they can become the Tendulkars, and Dravids of tomorrow (and hopefully dont share Ganguly's fate in the end!).

Tendulkar and Ganguly - the opening duo - were probably the most exhilarating comrade-in-arms that ever existed. His ability to non-chalantly and effortlessly hit sixes that match Hayden's in audacity and Afridi's in distance is legendary. What would we not do to see those cover-drives that only he in the whole game could play. Fielders never mattered - the ball always went past them.

He had been worked out - They knew the short ball in the ribs would perplex him, width outside the off-stump would make him lose his patience, and he could no longer charge down to the spinners (which to me was the biggest shock!).

Funny - it seems like we have a replacement for him .. not in Yuvraj or Raina - they are their own men. But, maybe in Pathan. Pathan, in his new-role as a batsman, plays Gangulyesque shots.

He had to go. But, lets agree - he was one of the very best that the game ever saw. Good Bye.

Or maybe, he will make a come-back??