Javagal Srinath, a former Indian cricketer, recently discussed a notable incident from the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series involving then-Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Australian skipper Steve Waugh. The incident, which occurred at Eden Gardens, centered on Ganguly’s delayed arrival for the toss, an act widely perceived as gamesmanship.
Srinath offered his perspective on the matter, stating that had he been the match referee at the time, disciplinary action would have been warranted. He indicated that such a delay would have led to a suspension for Ganguly.
Reflecting on the Toss Incident
During the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sourav Ganguly’s late appearance for the toss reportedly unsettled Steve Waugh and the Australian team. This series was ultimately won by India with a 2-1 margin. Ganguly later attributed his delay to being unable to locate his blazer, though this explanation has been debated.
Srinath, in his recent comments, was quoted as saying, “I would have banned Sourav for a few games!” This statement highlights his belief that the delay was a serious breach that merited a significant penalty.
Beyond the specific incident, Srinath also praised Ganguly’s leadership qualities during his captaincy. He emphasized Ganguly’s role in nurturing young talent who would later become crucial players for India.
Among the cricketers developed under Ganguly’s leadership were Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag. These players went on to become integral to the Indian team’s success in subsequent years, a testament to Ganguly’s ability to identify and support emerging talent.
Indian Cricket’s Transformation
Srinath also provided broader context on Indian cricket during that era, noting a significant transformation after the match-fixing controversies of the late 1990s. He observed a collective determination among players to restore the sport’s integrity and demonstrate its cleanliness to the world.
“There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean,” Srinath stated. He added that strong leadership from the top four or five players, who were aligned in their vision, helped India not only achieve consistent victories at home but also improve their performance overseas.
He recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India faced challenges winning abroad, but this began to change from 1999 onwards. This period marked a shift in the team’s performance and reputation.
Srinath also recounted his recommendation of Zaheer Khan to selector Chandu Borde. This occurred after he witnessed the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly inquired about Srinath’s position if Zaheer were selected, Srinath’s response was direct: “If he’s good, he replaces me.”
Personal Reflections and Game Balance
In a lighter vein, Srinath shared anecdotes about his former teammates. He jokingly described Rahul Dravid as “not the best roommate” due to a habit of leaving belongings scattered, contrasting this with Venkatesh Prasad, whom he described as extremely “spick and span.”
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed his preference for India to bat first, a view he expressed during team discussions. He believed batting first would allow them to put pressure on the opposition. However, Ganguly held a different opinion, and once the decision was made, Srinath noted that the team had to move forward, acknowledging that Australia proved to be too strong on that occasion.
Srinath also cautioned against comparing young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to cricketing legends such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He stressed that different eras present different challenges and that judging a player should encompass both white-ball and red-ball cricket.
He expressed hope that Sooryavanshi, whom he considers a wonderful talent, would develop the maturity seen in Sachin and possess the strong mindset of Virat. Additionally, Srinath advocated for a better balance between bat and ball in the sport, citing factors such as shorter boundaries, larger bats, and less pronounced seams as areas needing attention to restore equilibrium to the game.
He concluded that “Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game.”
Source: yardbarker.com
