The Hindu : Sport : Ganguly should try and turn things around

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Sport

Sport

Ganguly should try and turn things around

It can be a futile exercise to dwell on events in hindsight, but yet it is an irresistible temptation. Then, of course, the perceptions will depend on whether you are the perceiver or the perceived. Sourav Ganguly is perceived to have lost his touch both as a captain and as a batsman, and his recent poor form has been expressed in very strong terms after the loss in Bangalore.

The skipper would smile wryly if he were to go back in time when his every move on the field and gestures off it were appreciated. For instance, his temerity in making Steve Waugh wait longer than required before the toss was seen as refreshing aggression.

Similarly, his fierce twirling of his shirt on the Lord's balcony was deemed an uninhibited expression of joy. The victories in the NatWest finals and against Australia in 2000 were attributed to Ganguly's aggressive captaincy and his motivational abilities. Not many bothered about his contribution with the bat in those games.

Ganguly would have enjoyed all the appreciation then but the current subjective assessment would not have escaped his attention. While Ganguly's achievements as a captain are outstanding, his inconsistency with the bat has been equally remarkable. I am not suggesting that Ganguly hasn't performed with the bat during his tenure as captain, but he never came under scrutiny as a batsman because of the success of the team.

With both form and results proving elusive in recent times, the daggers are out from every direction. The lack of form can be as a result of Ganguly's inability to compartmentalise his thinking as a captain and batsman. Even Ganguly will concede the fact that he is just a pale shadow of himself as a batsman. In as much as his batting form is indifferent, the assessments on Ganguly are equally off the mark. To be fair, Ganguly has been consistent in his own way both as a captain and batsman.

At a time when his tactics have to be viewed under the microscope, his poor batting form has become the focal point. The skipper's handling of Harbhajan Singh left everyone guessing as did the tortoise paced Indian second innings. Ganguly did give the impression that he was thinking too far ahead instead of taking it one day at a time.

There have been a few whispers about Ganguly losing his captaincy and inadvertently it seems to have affected the skipper. The criticism dished out to the Indians after the debacle has its merit but the visitors deserved the victory as they obviously looked like hungry wolves out on the field. Except for Sehwag and Dravid, the rest of the batsmen were wobbly and the crumble was always a possibility.

I have hardly seen a captain succeed when the batting order as a whole has not clicked. Ganguly is under pressure at the moment but let us not forget that he has had to live up to the expectations of millions for over five years, which can cause a burnout. Ganguly has remarked that the selectors have to decide on his captaincy but he should realise that this is the time for him to hit the straps in order to stay at the top. With the one-dayers coming up, he should try and turn things around with the same cockiness that he did against the Australians.

For starters, it will be interesting to see if he opens as he has performed at his best at the top of the order. Only time will tell if the `Prince of Kolkata' will continue his reign and one hopes that he does because he is a real treat to watch when in full flow.

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