Why is Dada Ganguly still sulking and not congratulating Virat Kohli for his World Cup effort?
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Saurav Ganguly and Virat Kohli
The global cricketing fraternity stood up to applaud the fireworks of Virat Kohli (82) which enabled India to defeat Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup. A night after the explosive knock in Melbourne, people are still reliving the magic which was created from the broad blade of Kohli. Someone like Sunil Gavaskar, past 70, was jumping with joy, wearing a red monkey cap inside the stadium.
However, what stands out as a sore thumb is former India captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly posting a very tepid congratulatory message for Team India. As one who has been part of many thrilling wins for Team India, it would have been fair to expect the former President to write a few lines of appreciation for Virat Kohli. No, that has not happened.
This, indeed, opens up a can of worms that things were blow-hot-blow-cold between Dada and Kohli last year. It led to Kohli being ousted from one form of captaincy in 2021 before the champion batter gave up captaincy altogether. One expects grace and dignity from a person like Ganguly. If he is Dada, then he should behave like a Dada, not be petty-minded. One can have differences in opinion and approach but one should forgive and forget. If not, this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Saurav Ganguly’s involvement in office politics hasn’t benefitted him at all
Ganguly has been sulking since the time he was removed as BCCI President. He was angling for the job of ICC President but that is not happening. Ganguly had a great chance to evolve and show he has a larger-than-life image. After all, he will be running for the presidency of the Cricket Association of Bengal, again. Ganguly lost that one big moment to sort out differences with Kohli. One post, one tweet, and one comment on Twitter would have settled matters.
No, that has not happened. It now rekindles a topic that was raging last year at around this time just before the World Cup (T20) when Ganguly wanted Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri to go. Shastri read the writing on the wall and opted out of an extension for the job. Technically, he would have turned 60 and could not continue as India’s coach. However, he pre-empted any sacking move and waved goodbye.
In the case of Kohli, he was wanting to give up his T20 captaincy before the World Cup last November 2021. But the way the situation was created, Kohli gave up all types of captaincy, including ODIs and even leadership of his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
As the nation celebrates Diwali today, Kohli is still being talked of as he produced a cracker of a knock that wrecked Pakistan.
Sadly, Dada Ganguly has shown he is not a fair man. Being petty-minded lends credence to the fact that he was never in favor of Kohli as captain and Shastri as coach. Call it karma, or call it hard work, it has made no difference to those in the middle. Kohli bats with arrogance and aura and Shastri wields the mike with relish. Come on Dada, please do not sulk like this. You are supposed to be the Prince of Kolkata.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)