The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Dada’ comes calling

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Dada’ comes calling

V. V. Subrahmanyam

Saurav Ganguly visits ‘Puma’ showroom

Photo : Satish H.

The former captain of the Indian cricket team, Saurav Ganguly, obliging autograph-seekers at ‘Puma’ showroom in Hyderabad on Sunday. —

HYDERABAD: It was ‘Dadagiri’ on Liberty Road! It was not a street-fight but pure charisma of ‘Prince of Kolkata’, Saurav Ganguly, which could create traffic jam even on a holiday.

Such is his continued popularity that once the word spread of his visit to ‘Puma’ showroom (he is the brand ambassador), crowds grew in number and soon became restive as they could not resist the temptation to have a glance at their favourite cricketer.

“I love people’s response every time I come here. I still remember the way they were cheering me lustily when I played my first-class game on comeback trail in the 2006 Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup at Gymkhana Grounds,” ‘Dada’ recalled.

The former India captain was calm and accommodative despite the mayhem around him. He made the gathered crowd very happy waving at them sporting a broad smile. And also very patiently gave as many bytes as they sought for the television media.

Questions varied from the recent Australian series to the IPL and his own fate in one-day cricket. Ganguly was clear and precise in his replies. “Selection is not my job. I can only keep performing and hope for the best,” he made his point.

It was good that celebrities from other fields including like film industry and business houses are showing interest in the sport. “It is great to work with someone like Shah Rukh Khan for my Kolkata IPL team.” He refused to believe that the advent of film personalities will reduce the game to more of showmanship. “We, the cricketers have a job on hand, we will be focussed on it and they are doing their job,” he remarked.

Ganguly had an encouraging word or two for the beleaguered hockey fraternity. “I am for hockey. In sport, you tend to lose some and win some. We have failed to qualify for the next Olympics but it is not the end of it. We all support the sport and wish it comes back strongly,” he signed with style and authority.

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