Sourav Ganguly; (below) Sourav’s in happier times

This is one Sourav Ganguly innings that never quite tasted right and has now finally been run out.

As Sourav the cricketer plays television commentator in faraway England, Sourav’s: The Food Pavilion at 20G Park Street is shutting shop on Monday.

“It’s purely a business decision and that too not an overnight one,” Snehasish Ganguly, Sourav’s brother, told Metro. “We have been thinking about it for the last seven-eight months.”

Another source close to the Ganguly family was more forthcoming: “The place hasn’t been doing well. Sourav has been busy with his commentary work. Snehasish has become busier too. So the decision had to be made.”

According to the source, “Sourav had plans to close down Sourav’s earlier but he gave it more time to see if the restaurant would pick up.”

That big comeback never happened.

In true Sourav spirit, Sourav’s has over the years tried many shots at culinary stardom.

Initially, when the restaurant-cum-lounge bar was launched in end-2004, it was owned by Abhishek Entertainment and Foods Private Ltd and just had Sourav’s name attached to it, for which he received a royalty.

In May 2006, Sourav gained “full control” of his signature address and took over both the ownership and management mantle.

Seasons passed by and while other restaurants in and around Park Street continued to draw crowds, Sourav’s never quite got going.

Then, in October 2010, the five-storeyed multicuisine restaurant got its final shot in the arm. In a pre-Puja pitch, Sourav’s was revamped and got a new CEO. Assuming a hands-on avatar, the Prince of Calcutta urged people to check out the new Sourav’s.

“I would like to invite the whole of Calcutta to come, eat, enjoy and tell us how the food is,” the former Indian captain had said.

But it wasn’t meant to be. “Even we don’t know why the restaurant refused to pick up,” said Snehasish. “Maybe we couldn’t give it as much time as we should have.”

The Gangulys had the property on lease for 21 years and the decision to shut it down has come in its seventh year.

At least Sourav’s is in good company. Tendulkar’s, the Colaba eatery associated with Sachin Tendulkar, has shut shop as well and so has Sehwag Favourites in New Delhi.