where the mind is without fear – the head is held high

The commentary reads:

47.2 Krejza to Ganguly, out Caught & Bowled!! Oh, that’s a sad end to an absolutely wonderful career! Tossed up on middle and leg, Ganguly tries to work it to the leg side, gets a leading edge and Krejza dives to hold on! Ganguly c and b Krejza 0(1)

You gave me to remember your very first innings at Lords.
And you have given me your last ever innings at Nagpur – that too I’ll never forget.

You never did anything by halves, I will remember you for the extremes.
So will the world of cricket that you had inadvertantly polarised.

Ganguly at Nagpur

A long last look
a long walk back to the pavilion
and a long long memory to look back upon.
16 years, 113 tests, 311 ODIS – and six years as our captain.

I have no doubts you battled the opposition on the pitch, that was the easy bit.
You had even tougher battles behind closed doors – the indian cricket management.

Much has already been written about you – many more reams yet to be written.
Saurav Ganguly – the cricketer, the batsman, the captain,
and those who couldn’t get the better of you,
chose to comment on you the person.

Lord Snooty, huh!

I was one of the most misunderstood captains: Ganguly

10 Nov 2008, 2308 hrs IST, PTI

NAGPUR: Sourav Ganguly might have ended his career as India’s most successful captain but the elegant left-hander feels he was misunderstood during his tenure as the leader of the team.

“Of course, I was. I have been completely misunderstood. My role on the field was taken of as the same credit as off the field. Whereas, off-the field I am a completely different person,” Ganguly said after bidding adieu to international cricket.

Ganguly defended everything he did on field by saying that the sole purpose of his actions was to make India a top cricketing force in world cricket, in which he believes he succeeded.

“For me getting Indian cricket on the world map was the most important thing. I felt it was my responsibility to do it and I could see a team with me who could do it.

“So, I had to do everything which would make India a proud cricketing nation and that’s what happened,” he told a news channel.

There are only a few, who really understands ‘Indian cricket’, will today disagree with you.
It is also certain many of them will never acknowledge it in words.
They either did not want you to be the captain
or they placed you there to see you fail.

Because of you we, as a team, are no longer a soft option – at home or on tour.
Your team mates and players from the world over have acknowledged
what you have done for us.
For Team India.

You did it your way.
You do not have to prove yourself to anyone anymore.

Fare thee well.