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Gaurav kalra: With us is a man who has been described in many ways in his two-decade long career but today he is known as a man who loves to prove people wrong. Sourav Ganguly thanks for joining us. You have just turned 36, what a year this has been?
Sourav Ganguly: It's been good, it has been a successful year in both forms of the game. I'm playing well and hopefully I can keep going.
Gaurav kalra: It was almost half-a-lifetime ago that you played for India as an 18-year old in Australia and now turning 36, so much has happened. Now, when you look back, do you wonder 'how far have I come?'
Sourav Ganguly: Obviously, when you sit back and think when you have played so much of cricket, you feel satisfied. It's a profession that I have loved all my life and have done well. So, doing well and surviving for this long, is definitely a huge pleasure.
Gaurav kalra: At 36, do you feel like you have been a better cricketer than you have ever been?
Sourav Ganguly: I have played as well as I have in the past one year. I have realized that and I'm honest about it. I'm a firm believer that in cricket, you mature with age. Obviously, it's different for a fast bowler, a batsman and a spinner. As a batsman, I have matured and probably playing as well as I have ever played.
Gaurav kalra: One of the things that has defined your career is your self-belief, is that something you tell yourself that I'm playing as well as I have or do you genuinely feel that?
Sourav Ganguly: Even when I'm not practicing or playing in the middle, I still talk to myself and keep myself believing that I'm as good as anyone in this world and if I get an opportunity, I will perform. I think that belief is very important to succeed because you may train all the time and put hours in the nets but if you actually don't believe you are going to do it in the middle, you will never do it.
Gaurav kalra: The reason why are we sitting here is because of the wonderful award you have been honoured with. First, thoughts on the fact this was the first time an Asian cricket awards was put together. Did you ever think you will make this award?
Sourav Ganguly: I was not aware of this Asian Cricket Awards because up till now we used to have the Castrol Indian cricketer of the year award. Obviously with my performance in the past 13-14 months in both forms of the game I was hopeful. But you actually don't believe it till you get it.
Gaurav kalra: Let me ask you a quiz question, which cricketer scored the maximum runs in Tests in 2007?
Sourav Ganguly: It's (Jacques) Kallis.
Gaurav kalra: Yes and who is No. 2?
Sourav Ganguly: It's me.
Gaurav kalra: Yes, you are right. Sourav Ganguly always knows his numbers. It was your best year as an individual. How did you achieve that, given that three months before 2007 everybody said Sourav Ganguly is finished?
Sourav Ganguly: I have heard that phrase quiet a few times in my career but as I said I'm a firm believer in what I believe. And I always felt I had it in me to play both forms of the game again. I was just waiting for my opportunity. Obviously when you have been away from that game, you get an opportunity to look at your own game and work hard on it.I'm not saying that you don't work hard on your game when you are playing but then you are constantly under pressure, you are traveling, you are playing and that can take away the relaxed look from your game. And that's why they say a break is important in sports. When you have the break, you are still thinking about your game as a cricketer. You know that you are not waking up tomorrow and playing again.
Gaurav kalra: So in a way was the break good?
Sourav Ganguly: The break was good, it helped. It was too long probably but I have come out as a better player and it has showed in my performance.
Sourav Ganguly: No, I did make little bit of changes in my game, not a whole lot of changes because I cannot do that after being around for so long. I made little changes and my confidence kept growing as I kept playing.
When I started in November 2006 in the tour of South Africa I came back with a lot of confidence because it was a tough tour and I was coming back after six months. And I was the highest-scorer in the team. So that obviously helped in the confidence and then I came back to the one-day side and I did consistently well. And that kept on increasing my belief and obviously, I was not captain anymore, so there was a lot less work for me to do. I had to just focus on my performance.
Gaurav kalra: Couple of things, you have achieved. One, I remember meeting you after you had completed your 100th Test match in Melbourne, that was a very proud moment. Two, a double hundred against Pakistan; a Test batsman always wants a double hundred against his name. Can you talk a little bit about these two achievements since you have made a comeback?
Sourav Ganguly: Playing 100 Tests is a special feeling. It is a huge milestone for any cricketer; it is a bigger milestone than playing 300 one-day games. From that point of view, it is huge satisfaction.From the double hundred point of view, I have been in that situation a number of times but I have let it go. But this time could manage to do it this time against Pakistan. Probably, I was destined to get it late.
Gaurav kalra: We have talked about Test cricket Sourav but your one-day average since you have made a comeback has been 44 but were you happy with how you were playing in one-day cricket? Was it the same Sourav Ganguly?
Sourav Ganguly: you look at the number of games I have played, every time I have scored, India have won. I have had a lot of man-of-the series awards, man-of-the-match awards. I have also picked up wickets as well. So, it was the same old Sourav Ganguly. According to me, even in the first game that I played against West Indies after I came back, I got a 98 in Nagpur. It was the same. One must realise that I was under a lot of pressure as well - coming back into the team and trying to get a place for myself.And that pressure is always going to be there. That is why it's important to make your team batsmen secure especially in the one-day format of the game. If all the time a batsman is playing for his place in the side, he will be a different player. But I was very happy with the way I batted, especially in England and all the runs have come when the team wanted to. Between Sachin, and me in the tour of Ireland and England we had five hundred-run partnerships in nine or ten games.
Gaurav kalra: Then what was the talk all about that Sourav Ganguly has very good numbers but he was not contributing to the team's cause?
Sourav Ganguly: I don't believe that. They should just look at the number of times India have won when I have scored runs, that will answer their question.
Gaurav kalra: Obviously, you are not a part of this One-Day team. Do you feel now that my time in ODI cricket has passed?
Sourav Ganguly: I don't feel anything. All I see is, I am not getting picked. I have not been getting picked in the last 3-4 months, till the Champions Trophy and there is no One-Day cricket after that till the next year. I just don't think about it because it is no point thinking.
Gaurav kalra: The reason that this question is being asked Sourav, is that there is a lot of talk of a new culture of playing One-Day cricket. In the team that went to Asia Cup, the oldest member of the squad was Virender Sehwag.
Sourav Ganguly: You are talking about the culture of age?
Gaurav kalra: Yes! What is your view on it? Is there too much focus on the fact that a guy cannot play One-Day cricket after a certain age?
Sourav Ganguly: It is rubbish! Look at (Sanath) Jayasuriya, (Matthew) Hayden. It is not fair and that is not correct as well but that is the way it is.
Gaurav kalra: How do you view it? How do you view a One-Day career? Do you feel sometimes that it is over?
Sourav Ganguly: Well! I would be dishonest if I say that the thought hasn't come. But as I said, I really don't think about it anymore. Because I know if I get an opportunity I will perform again. But the point is whether I will get an opportunity or not.
Gaurav kalra: I want to ask you about your Test runs. You are well past the 6000-run mark and about to cross 7000 runs, you are fourth in the overall list of Indian batsmen. Do you think in terms of numbers how for you want to go?
Sourav Ganguly: No, I just want to keep on playing and keep on playing well. I Think every batsman, whether it is Sachin, Rahul or Lara or a young batsman playing Test cricket, they will always be judged on the basis of their Test performances. You remember Gavaskar, Boycott, Lara on the basis of their Test performances. One-day performances are important but any cricketer will be remembered by his performance in Test matches.
So, I'm looking forward to do well in whatever opportunity I get in Test cricket. I'm happy with the way I have played since the way I have come back. Hope I can continue.
Gaurav kalra: Can I ask you about the concept of too much cricket being played. You have spent your life playing cricket, there must have been times when you have been exhausted. Is there too much cricket being played?
Sourav Ganguly: I think you should ask that to the guys who are playing all three forms. At this point of time, I'm just playing Test cricket. I'm absolutely fine. It is two months at home and then a month of cricket and then again two months at home.
Gaurav kalra: The reason I asked was that we have this unprecedented situation where a one-day captain has said he will not be physically able to play in a Test series. This is an unique situation. What is causing that, according to you? I think you have to ask Dhoni that because he has a lot on his plate. He is a wicketkeeper, which is not an easy job, he is the captain of the team plus he is a batsman. So he has a lot to do. But at the same time, he is just 27. But he will answer that question much better.
For someone like me, who is just playing one form of the game and the IPL, which happens once in a year, will not be fair to make a statement.
Gaurav kalra: Do you believe in the concept of shortening of the careers with all the cricket that is being played, there is no chance that these players can last like Tendulkar and Ganguly.
Sourav Ganguly: It will be shortened, no doubt. There is bound to be burnout and fatigue but the rewards are also very high. The rewards that were there 15 years ago, you'll get rewarded that much in six months now.
Gaurav kalra: That do you think is a motivation for youngsters?
Sourav Ganguly: Of course, it should be. It is a part of the motivation, it is not the only motivation. Playing for India and doing well, especially in Test cricket that should be the biggest motivation.
Gaurav kalra: The IPL was disappointing, Sourav Ganguly is not used to losing. Have you reflected on what went wrong for the Knight Riders?
Sourav Ganguly: Yes, we have. We didn't bat well enough in the entire tournament. We had a good bowling attack and we defended totals well. It's not an excuse but we lost a lot of players. People just kept coming in and going out and we were never a settled team. We lost 5-6 overseas players. It was a new format for all of us. It was new for me and the coach, John Buchanan and a lot of players. So, probably we will come out as a better team next year, knowing what to do.
Gaurav kalra: Another theory is that the four teams that did not make it to the semis were lead by Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS laxman, what are your views on that?
Sourav Ganguly: I don't agree to it. It's just a coincidence. One player will never decide the team's wins and losses. There were other players as well who were younger. It's an age criteria nowadays. So, it's just going with the flow. Hopefully one of them will win it.
Gaurav kalra: Since the IPL, has it been a surprise for your wife and daughter to see you at home so much. Has it been odd?
Sourav Ganguly: Hopefully they don't find it odd seeing me at home. But my daughter enjoyed IPL quite a bit, she never used to watch much cricket before.
Gaurav kalra: What are your thoughts on playing in Sri Lanka?
Sourav Ganguly: We have done well in Sri Lanka. I have had successes as a player and we as a team and it's always going to be a tough tour because they are twice the dangerous side in Sri Lanka than they are outside. They have two good spinners in Murali and Mendis, who are obviously going to play a huge role in those slow turning wickets. It's going to be a good series. We also have two good spinners in Harbhajan and Kumble. It's the team which puts more runs on the board.
Gaurav kalra: Isn't it ironical that the Test team which India fields is completely different from the one-day and the Twenty20 teams?
Sourav Ganguly: Again we are going into seniors and youngsters. As I said, it always has to be about performances and from that point, the guys who are playing test cricket are performing. Till the last series, we were the No. 2 Test side in the world.And our overseas performances have improved immensely in the last 7-8 years.
Gaurav kalra: You touched upon Ajantha Mendis and in the media we love to build on players. You must be having the best view on Mendis because you played him in the nets here?
Sourav Ganguly: Yes, I did, I played him quite a bit in the nets. We should have had him a little bit earlier. But nobody knew about him
Gaurav kalra: Did he get you out?
Sourav Ganguly: Yes, he did in the nets a few times. But I won't get out in the matches.
Gaurav kalra: What do you make of him?
Sourav Ganguly: He is a bit different. His action is different; I believe it is called the carom ball. But players will start getting used to him.
Gaurav kalra: Will he really pose a threat because you guys have played a lot of spin bowling?
Sourav Ganguly: He will pose a threat initially but as I said at this level you have to adjust as quickly as possible. And hopefully we will be able to overcome.
Gaurav kalra: And Murali?
Sourav Ganguly: He probably is a bigger threat because of his record in Test cricket and he knows how to get wickets and he will bowl 50 overs in a day.
Gaurav kalra: Do you now have a timeline on your career?
Sourav Ganguly: I just play. If I have to stop tomorrow, I will move on. I will try and do well and keep on doing well in whatever opportunity I get.
Gaurav kalra: What is it going like in the training?
Sourav Ganguly: I'm hitting the ball well. I'm looking forward to the warm-up game and hopefully I will be at my best for the first Test.
Gaurav kalra: And you might be asked to bowl as well.
Sourav Ganguly: Yes and hopefully I will be able to get a few wickets for the team.
Gaurav kalra: Final question – you are a big football fan; did the right team win the Euro 2008?
Sourav Ganguly: The best team won. My team went out in the quarterfinals but I watched after that too, though I was not supporting anyone.