As Sourav Ganguly pads up to helm the Board of Control for Cricket in India from Wednesday, Dhanbad cricketers who played against his team in a Ranji encounter over 13 years ago reminisced about Dada and shared their expectations from him.
Ganguly played a match between Bengal and Jharkhand at the Jealgora stadium of the Bharat Coking Coal of India on February 13, 2006.
Ratan Kumar, former Jharkhand batsman who played against Ganguly in that match, said: “We have great expectations from Ganguly as the BCCI chief. As captain, he promoted new talent. As the chief of BCCI, we are hoping he will do the same.
“Dada was a star in 2006 but never behaved like a star and only showed his stardom with his bat. We’re sure that quality has stayed,” he added.
Former Jharkhand player Aamir Hashmi, who also played in that match, added: “We are delighted that he has become the chief of the BCCI. He was great in spotting talent. With Dada heading the BCCI, I am sure Team India will attain new heights.”
Bala Shankar Jha, sports in-charge of Tata Steel Jharia division, who represented Bihar to play against Ganguly in the Tata Colliery Sports Association invitation tournament match in 1986-87, said he had seen Ganguly grow from strength to strength. “But even when he was very young, he was courteous towards everyone, listened to people. These qualities will help him in his new role.”
Dipesh Yagnik, who had then been the local manager of the Bengal team in Dhanbad, remembered that Bengal had drubbed Jharkhand by nine wickets. “Dada was in form, he scored 72 runs with four sixes and also took two wickets,” Yagnik said. “But what we remember is his humble, friendly attitude. He stayed at Skylark Hotel here, suite B-22, and though hilsa dishes were prepared for him, he was absolutely clear he did not want special treatment.”
When Ganguly had an upset tummy, Yagnik got homemade khichdi and mashed raw bananas. It’s great news that Ganguly would run the BCCI, he said: “Dada remembers details and is genuinely concerned about people.”
