Is Saurav Ganguly's One Day Career Over?

[Asim]

Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar were one of the most formidable opening batsmen for a long time in one day cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar was around for a long time when Ganguly made his debut and together they went on to achieve great success as a good left-right combination, more over their different styles of batting complimented each other pretty well. Then Ganguly went on to be a very accomplished captain and lead India to victories both in Tests and One- days, the killer instinct which always lacked in most of the previous Indian teams was seen by many for the first time, the pressure and over dependence on tendulkar was lightened, Ganguly expressed his batting skills along with captancy for a considerable amount of time. All along this way he was moving up and developed India into a good one day team, he was at his helm when young players like Kaif and Yuvraj added a different dimension to the fielding standards along with great batting. (I dont know how many of you remember this but Azharuddin stared the trend of diving and then Jadeja and tendulkar were noted for their good fielding, apart from them not many Indian fielders wanted to get their clothes dirty.
lol). He was the second Indian captain to take India to a World cup Final, that was a world cup in which the only team which defeated India(on two occasions) was Australia, apart from those two defeats Indians were a force to reckon in that tournament.

Then something went wrong..... Ganguly's inability(which he has overcome now) to play the short ball directed into his body was exploited by almost every team,(heck even Kenya and Bangladeshi bowlers got Ganguly's wicket by bowling short).

This kept happening for quiet sometime, and then the world cup 2007 came along.
After a very inauspicious and disappointing world cup tour most senior players were sacked, Tendulkar was injured, and Ganguly was finally sacked(people from everywhere except bengal wanted Ganguly to be dropped).

But now Ganguly is over 35(he would be 36 in like 42 days), and with world cup 2011 in mind selectors blooded young guns to face the music in Australia and guess what they defeated Australia in Australia in CB series which isn't a mean achievement by any stretch of imagination. Players like Sehwag, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma have taken over and they are the future of Indian team.

Now after being called back into Tests, Ganguly is playing cricket as well as he ever did, with IPL sweeping across the globe, Ganguly has lead his IPL team(Kolkatta Knight Riders) from the front on more than one occasion, he is bowling, batting and fielding with the enthusiasm of any U-22 player. He is not leaving any stone unturned to get back in the one-day team and he is expressing his desire to be back in One-Day at every given opportunity. "I hope the selectors were watching" is what he is saying.

Now the real question, when the selectors meet they will definitely discuss Ganguly's name, should they give Ganguly preference over Sehwag, Gambhir, Sharma, or Uthappa ?  (and they will probably end up selecting him) but does he have enough to get in the playing XI ? given that the other players have performed consistently and according to me have done enough to get selected ahead of him.  Ganguly is a great player but with the future in mind the board should continue to put their trust on young guns.

What do you all think ? If you have any comments(or want to criticize) or want to share your views about this article here is your chance.

[PanesarV]

First of all, great article. Nicely sums up everything about Ganguly's current situation and his career.

Ganguly was great form when he was dropped, which was unfair to him. But again, should we start trying out young blood for the next world cup or continue to play with the old and the experienced? It is a tough decision by selectors to be made. I think keeping him just in the test squad is also a good idea if you want to prepare a new team for 2011 World Cup because I doubt that Ganguly will be able to retain the minimum fitness required to play at the international level.

India has got a good shot at World Cup 2011 as Australia is not as dominating now as they used to be. I think Gambhir and Sehwag performed very well in the recent Australian tour and they are deserve to be picked in the ODI squad.

[Asim]

Its good to see that selectors have put their faith in the players who performed well in Australia, Ganguly wasnt selected in the 15-man squad which was picked up for the tour of Bangladesh and Asia Cup.
You can look at the team by clicking the following link.
http://ecric.net/forums/c...r-tri-series-and-asia-cup

[Parry]

Great Article Asim
but i don't think that his ODI career is over
i think that its a nice move by BCCI to select youngsters and giving them chance to prove their abilities

keep up the great work Asim

[chaiwala]

In recent times, India has done well in ODIs without seniors like Ganguly, Dravid viceversa. Not only did they win T20 worldcup but also defeated mighty australians in their homeyard in triangular series. In IPL we've seen that so many young players are waiting to be selected. Everyone knows ganguly was a great player but time has come that India should show faith in young upcoming players (Which they already are doing). In modern cricket, fielding, catching, running between the wicket, stemina plays a vital role in addition to basic cricketing skills i.e. batting, bowling etc. After the induction of young blood, India's fielding has also improved tremendously. IMHO ganguly is not required in ODIs anymore. Gautam and Sehwag are doing well, India should also find a reserve opening player as a replacement for Sehwag as he is also getting older.

[Asim]

Chaiwala I agree with your comments, but I am afraid one of them(Gambhir or Sehwag) have to give their opening place once the Legendary Sachin comes back. We all know that Sachin loves to open, and as long as he is playing he will open, it will probably be Sachin and Gambhir(Right left combination).

[PanesarV]

Asim, I don't think Sehwag will get kicked out. I know Gambhir is playing better than Sehwag at the moment but its the Indian team. I think they'll want to have Sachin and Sehwag both fire like they did in WC '03. I think Gambhir will be the one who will have to sacrifice his spot.

[Asim]

You are right Panesar such things keep happening with the Indian team, but I think they would want Gambhir to open with Sachin just like CB Series. and Sehwag can come at No. 3. I dont know may be they will make Gambhir come at No.3. However this is what I noticed against the game against Pakistan( I think it was the league match in Bangladesh), when Sehwag and Gambhir were batting Dhoni had both Raina and Sharma padded up, just to make sure that there was a right left combination. I believe Dhoni(given that he is not afraid to go against the norm) would want Gambhir to open.

[karthikeyan113]

Yeah. Dhoni likes to have a left-right combination in the middle.
I think it makes sense also, when you have so many lefties, why not use them whereever needed...

The field positions have to change for every single and bowler has to change the angle.
Its a good move to have that combination in the crease.
It will help any team.

I guess, Sachin will need to open the innings and people also want him to play as much as possible so that can get them entertained.
Sehwag is also doing well and but i think he is also deadly in the powerplays and he also needs to bat as many overs as possible.
If he fires, India wins most of the times.

So i guess, its gambhir to sacrifise his position for the batting maestro.

Sachin & Shewag will be most likely opening pair, i guess. can we have a bet

[PanesarV]

Karthick, yea I see Gambhir sacrificing his place for Sachin too. Gambhir and Sehwag were really turning into a deadly pair. Who would prefer to open with Sehwag? Gambhir or Sachin?

[Asim]

I have a feeling that we would have Gambhir and Saching opening and Sehwag coming at No.3.

[karthikeyan113]

I know Gambhir is deadly along with Sehwag, But still I would prefer Sachin opening with Sehwag.

If I am the captain, I will send Sachin & Sehwag to open the innings.
When they both fire, its awesome to watch and the match will be ours.

[stickyboy]

Great Article Asim
but i don't think that his ODI career is over
i think that its a nice move by BCCI to select youngsters and giving them chance to prove their abilities

keep up the great work Asim

Nice one article, Asim. But I also don't think  Saurav Da's one day career is over.
I am totally agree with Parry. Well said Parry

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