The name Sourav Ganguly does
not deserve an introduction to Indians. The name is once again in news,
courtesy IPL5 and the win of PWI over DD. What has been on display from this
cricketer this IPL season is a conflict between ability and ambition. The
ambition is still there but the ability with out doubt has dropped down. But
the leadership skills are still intact and if leadership means taking on
responsibility, Ganguly did just that. Who would have expected this old man to
bowl at the rampaging Sehwags and Peitersens? But bowl he did and the gamble
paid off. It was a risk he was compelled to take because all the other bowlers
had been put to sword.
This is not the first time that
he has pulled it off single handedly. A hero of so many Indian victories both
away and at home, Ganguly will be remembered for being a great batsman but a
greater leader of men. The move to play Rahul Dravid as a wicket keeper in the
2003 world cup was a stunner. It allowed him the option to play either an extra
batsman or a bowler. The move to climb down the batting order to accommodate
and thus build the future battery of artillery in Sehwag was a move that paid
dividends to the team but back fired for him. The hand picking of then young
chaps who are super stars today- Yuvraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan and many more was a
move that paid off then and continues to pay off now as well. His over reliance
on “youth only” was a gamble that most HR managers will not take.
“Motivation and attitude” have
seen many theories before. Professor Ganguly redefined these management terms
his own way at Lord’s, taking off his shirt to extinguish fire with fire.
Keeping Steve Waugh waiting for the toss was yet another hit that struck the
Aussies at the roots of their prestige.
The entire team standing shoulder to shoulder in a circle is a picture
frame one would always relate with him. And for those who remember Shoaib
Akhtar knocking down Ganguly’s stumps at the Eden Gardens will also remember
Ganguly stepping down to Akhtar and hooking him on way to 235 at the
Chinnaswamy. How he managed to do these is some thing only he can tell.