Date:11/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111162091900.htm

Sport

The last hour was special: Ganguly

Special Correspondent

Nagpur: Sourav Ganguly will be remembered as one of Indian cricket’s most significant figures. The left-hander fell short of greatness in Test cricket, but re-invented himself to end a very fine batsman, averaging 42.17. What defines him, however, is his time as the nation’s most successful captain, when he won 21 of 49 Tests, and changed the image — and the course — of Indian cricket.

Ganguly spoke to the media after his 113th and final Test.

(Excerpts): On the decision to retire:

I have had my time. I had a good series, we have beaten the best team in the world. There were lots of doubts after we came back from Sri Lanka. But the way this series has finished, I am ready to sacrifice a year of cricket for that.

On going out on a high:

India (have) always played well against Australia. It holds good for Indian cricket in the future but at the same time, I know my other counterparts have mentioned it, it shows the seniors are good enough. My time is up, but Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid), and (V.V.S.) Laxman are still fantastic.

On what defined his cricket:

Toughness. It was more than what many people thought I had. I have had questions asked right through my career. I am happy that I have overcome all of them and am here today because of my ability and toughness.

On the spat with Greg Chappell:

Let’s keep the controversy away, it’s (a) happy day for Indian cricket. Let’s not bring that again, let’s respect him. Let’s respect whatever has happened.

On his legacy:

As a captain I never believed a lot on the drawing board. It was a phase where we needed to take Indian cricket forward, especially overseas. I was lucky to have Sachin, Rahul, Anil, Laxman, (Virender) Sehwag and Harbhajan (Singh) playing their best cricket at that stage between 2000 and 2005. We have always been a strong team at home but were seen as a soft touring side. That has changed. I think we are a formidable side home and away.

On the final-innings duck:

I was more disappointed with the 85 in the first innings. I was so close to getting a hundred. I don’t know whether one duck made my career dramatic. It was dramatic in any case.

On the private Sourav:

I am two different personalities on and off the field. And a lot of time in judging me as a person, they have picked up what they have seen on the field, which is not the right Sourav Ganguly. I am very quiet and a soft-spoken person.

On his favourite memories:

My first Test at Lord’s, my hundred against Australia in Brisbane and the hundred in Chandigarh (Mohali). It was my last series and it was important to get to runs before I finished.

On his last five days as a Test cricketer:

I felt happy the way it ended and the last one hour on the field was special. Didn’t expect M.S. (Dhoni) to ask me to captain the side for five overs. I was already switched off. He woke me up and I didn’t know what was happening. I managed to do it for three (overs) and told him that’s his job, not mine any more. I have still not realised what it means to not play the game anymore.