Srinath reflects on Ganguly’s 2001 toss delay, leadership, and Indian cricket’s transformation
Former India cricketer Javagal Srinath recently commented on a notable incident from the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where then-captain Sourav Ganguly kept Australian skipper Steve Waugh waiting for the toss at Eden Gardens. Srinath stated that if he had been the match referee at the time, he would have imposed a ban on Ganguly for a few games due to the delay.
The incident was widely seen as an act of gamesmanship that reportedly unsettled Waugh and the Australian team during the series, which India ultimately won 2-1. Ganguly later attributed the delay to being unable to locate his blazer, though Srinath indicated this explanation was debatable.
Ganguly’s Leadership and Team Transformation
Beyond the toss controversy, Srinath offered praise for Ganguly’s leadership qualities during his tenure as India captain. He particularly highlighted Ganguly’s role in nurturing young talent who would later become crucial players for the national side. Srinath specifically mentioned cricketers such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag, who developed under Ganguly’s captaincy and contributed significantly to India‘s success in subsequent years.
Srinath also reflected on the broader context of Indian cricket during that period, noting a significant transformation after the match-fixing controversies of the late 1990s. He observed that players across the team developed a collective determination to restore the sport’s integrity and demonstrate its clean image to the world.
According to Srinath, there was a strong resolve among the players to improve the game’s perception and prove that cricket is superior and clean. He added that leadership from the top four or five players being aligned helped India not only achieve consistent wins at home but also improve their performance in overseas matches.
Recollections and Insights
Srinath recalled that India faced challenges winning abroad between 1991 and 1997-98, but this trend began to shift from 1999 onwards. He also shared an anecdote about the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, revealing that he had advocated for India to bat first to put pressure on the opposition. Despite his view, Ganguly had a different perspective, and once the decision was made, Srinath noted that the team had to move forward, acknowledging that Australia proved to be too strong in that match.
Another recollection involved Srinath recommending Zaheer Khan to selector Chandu Borde. Srinath had observed the left-arm pacer taking six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly questioned what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was selected, Srinath’s response was straightforward: “If he’s good, he replaces me.”
Srinath also provided a light-hearted insight into his former teammates, describing Rahul Dravid as “not the best roommate” due to his habit of scattering belongings, while contrasting him with Venkatesh Prasad, whom he described as extremely “spick and span.”
Addressing comparisons for young talent, Srinath cautioned against likening Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He emphasized that different eras present different challenges for players. Srinath highlighted that judging a player involves considering both white-ball and red-ball cricket. He described Sooryavanshi as a wonderful talent who is still very young, expressing hope that he develops maturity similar to Sachin and possesses the strong mindset of Virat.
Furthermore, Srinath called for a better balance between bat and ball in cricket. He pointed to factors such as shorter boundaries, larger bats, and less pronounced seams as elements that contribute to an imbalance in the game, suggesting that measures are needed to restore equilibrium.
Srinath’s reflections provide a look into key moments and developments in Indian cricket, from individual player dynamics to broader team transformations.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
