Dhoni Ousts 'The Indian cricketer of 2007' –Sourav Ganguly

 

Winter is in full bloom and once more it's time for Indian Cricket Circus.

His come back is still being touted as one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. He is the only Indian cricketer in 2007 who scored more than 1000 runs in both forms of cricket. In 2007, his test performance is: 10 tests –19 Ings- 1106 runs with an average of 61.44 and in ODI: 32 matches – 1240 runs – 44.25 average. What do you feel? He is the most secured cricketer in Indian squad now…right? Wrong!

He is just dropped from One day Squad on the eve of tri series in Australia.

His name? From eight to eighty – all Indian cricket fans know him as a valiant crusader and a  comeback man.

His cricket fraternity, selectors and BCCI politics once more back stub Sourav Ganguly in his twilight cricketing phase.

 

Will you search Webster for an apt expression to show your shock, grief, and awe or flabbergast?

Then my dear, you are not an Indian, we must say!

In Indian cricket the injustice takes upper hand over justice. Performance takes back seat and favouritism takes center stage. Insanity prevails over rationale.

 

It was perhaps now the shock of the year given by selectors to Indians. A huge surprise in the Indian team selection for the tri-series in Australia, Sourav Ganguly has been left out despite a very successful year after he made a comeback to the team. The board said we looking towards the 'future' team of India the selection committee have provided the youngsters who have done well in domestic cricket an excellent platform.

Niranjan Shah told: "The three selectors here had a teleconference with two of their colleagues Ranjib Biswal and Venkatapathy Raju and Dhoni in Australia, after which the team was selected,"

Explaining reasons behind ignoring Ganguly and Dravid, Shah said, "The emphasis was on fielding abilities and they wanted a young fielding side for the series. That's why you see a lot of youngsters in the side."

The days of 2005-06 are back again when Sourav supporters burnt an effigy of BCCI president Sharad Pawar and Dhoni as protests erupted in the metropolis over the former skipper being from the national squad for the forthcoming triangular series in Australia.

"Bring dada back", demanded the fans, holding posters and banners.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) described Ganguly's sacking as "grave injustice" and said it would lodge a strong protest to BCCI.

"What has been done is totally wrong, grave injustice is being done to him", says CAB joint secretary Samar Pal.

Mr.Pal added:"It seems Dhoni did not want him in the side. Dhoni is more comfortable with juniors so he is in favour of axing seniors. But we will not sit idle. We will lodge a strong protest".

Dhoni, a slam bang performer, is more successful in sub continent flat pitch, whose meteoric rise in three years time and earning of a superstar status thanks to unexpected good show by Indian team at T-20 victory and media hype.

Dhoni definitely wants a junior team not for the best interest of the team, but because with the kids he alone will call the shots.

A point to ponder: He was taken into Indian side from nowhere in 2004 when then captain Sourav Ganguly spotted him in one of the first class matches. Under Sourav's captaincy only he surged ahead. Despite his poor show in first 4-5 matches on trot, Sourav kept his faith on Dhoni and Dhoni eventually came successful against pakistan at Bishakhapattanam with a score of 148.

It is truly a sad day for Indian cricket that Dhoni forgot and denied the invaluable help provided by Sourav in his early phase in Indian team. Today when Sourav is going through perhaps his best form in career, Dhoni just to satisfy his personal agenda back stubbed a legendary One day cricketer like Sourav Ganguly.

 

One day Team

MS Dhoni (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh (Vice Captain), Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla, Pravin Kumar.

Standbye: Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan and Munaf Patel.