Ganguly was our most successful captain. This article analyses his captaincy and his record against various countries and puts the things into perspective.
GANGULY’S GOOD MOVES
1. He backed youngsters like Yuvraj, Zaheer, Sehwag, Harbhajan and Nehra. Harbhajan terminated Australians in 2001 series at home. Zaheer and Nehra were instrumental in India reaching 2003 World cup finals. Yuvraj and Kaif won India the Natwest trophy.
2. He brought in the middle-order batsman Sehwag into test team as an opener (Sehwag made his test debut as a middle-order batsman). Ganguly felt that such a talent should not be wasted in the bench. Sehwag turned out to be India’s best opening batsman after Sunil Gavaskar.
3. Most Indian captains don’t respond to any sledging comments from opposition players. But Ganguly responded to Steve Waugh and in fact succeeded in his endeavor.
4. He was not conservative. Most Indian captains won’t prefer a young promising performer to experienced performer. He preferred Harbhajan to Kumble.
5. There is no groupism in the team though he had some sort of cold war with Sachin. For this credit must go to Dravid and Sachin.
GANGULY’S BAD MOVES
1. Unfortunately he was too dependent on his loyal young brigade. He did not know the thin line between supporting the young promising players and dropping the under performers.
2. He supported his young brigade but he did not try to inculcate good work ethics in them as well as in him. This is the reason most of his young brigade lost their way. Nehra is nowhere in the reckoning now. Sehwag and Harbhajan are currently not in the team. Zaheer after in and out of the team, just now only came back to the team after learning the hard lessons.
3. He was not keen on constantly improving himself and he became stagnant. His bad performances began to affect the team’s performances.
GANGULY’S GOOD MOVES
1. He backed youngsters like Yuvraj, Zaheer, Sehwag, Harbhajan and Nehra. Harbhajan terminated Australians in 2001 series at home. Zaheer and Nehra were instrumental in India reaching 2003 World cup finals. Yuvraj and Kaif won India the Natwest trophy.
2. He brought in the middle-order batsman Sehwag into test team as an opener (Sehwag made his test debut as a middle-order batsman). Ganguly felt that such a talent should not be wasted in the bench. Sehwag turned out to be India’s best opening batsman after Sunil Gavaskar.
3. Most Indian captains don’t respond to any sledging comments from opposition players. But Ganguly responded to Steve Waugh and in fact succeeded in his endeavor.
4. He was not conservative. Most Indian captains won’t prefer a young promising performer to experienced performer. He preferred Harbhajan to Kumble.
5. There is no groupism in the team though he had some sort of cold war with Sachin. For this credit must go to Dravid and Sachin.
GANGULY’S BAD MOVES
1. Unfortunately he was too dependent on his loyal young brigade. He did not know the thin line between supporting the young promising players and dropping the under performers.
2. He supported his young brigade but he did not try to inculcate good work ethics in them as well as in him. This is the reason most of his young brigade lost their way. Nehra is nowhere in the reckoning now. Sehwag and Harbhajan are currently not in the team. Zaheer after in and out of the team, just now only came back to the team after learning the hard lessons.
3. He was not keen on constantly improving himself and he became stagnant. His bad performances began to affect the team’s performances.
GANGULY IN TEST MATCHES
Ganguly's only overseas series victroy against a top team was against Pakistan in 2004. Other overseas series victories are against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Under Ganguly India had played 20 test series. India had won 10 of them and lost and drawn 5 each. Out of those series wins 5 of them are against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Against top teams India had won 5 and lost 5 series. India's only home series loss was against Australia in 2004.
GANGULY IN ONE-DAY MATCHES
1. India reached the finals of 2003 World Cup.
2. India was the joint winner of 2002 ICC Championship trophy.
3. India won the tri-nations Natwest trophy in England, 2002.
4. India won its first one-day series against Pakistan in Pakistan, 2004.
5. India won its first one-day series against West Indies in West Indies, 2002.
CONCLUSION
Ganguly may be our most successful captain but he was not the best. He had a great team. Dravid, Sachin, Laxman, Sehwag and himself were at their peak during his tenure. That was the best batting line-up in the Indian cricketing history. Harbhajan was also at his peak during his tenure. More importantly he had the best ever vice captain (Dravid) in cricketing history under him. No one can deny the fact that he was instrumental in pushing talented youngsters into the team. More than his captaincy skills his great batting line-up was responsible for his victories.
2. India was the joint winner of 2002 ICC Championship trophy.
3. India won the tri-nations Natwest trophy in England, 2002.
4. India won its first one-day series against Pakistan in Pakistan, 2004.
5. India won its first one-day series against West Indies in West Indies, 2002.
CONCLUSION
Ganguly may be our most successful captain but he was not the best. He had a great team. Dravid, Sachin, Laxman, Sehwag and himself were at their peak during his tenure. That was the best batting line-up in the Indian cricketing history. Harbhajan was also at his peak during his tenure. More importantly he had the best ever vice captain (Dravid) in cricketing history under him. No one can deny the fact that he was instrumental in pushing talented youngsters into the team. More than his captaincy skills his great batting line-up was responsible for his victories.
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