The Knight, the Knight Riders & SRK

Globalization! That is a hell of a curse! We do not bother what our siblings are doing with their life, but we know all about a movie or sports icon; we do not bother to find out how our parents are earning to fend for us, but we discuss at length how much exactly the Stars are getting paid. Definitely a very strange time to live in Watson!

Sourav Ganguly – Prince of Calcutta, actually, he has been a very sensational personality, all throughout his cricketing career and beyond. And he is the one in the news. Recently, we ogled at the auction of players for the IPL 4. I somehow hate this concept… seems very cheap when world class players go under the hammer… underwear of eminent persons are also sold the same way… what an analogy! Anyway, coming back to the point of argument, the whole City of Joy is in an uproar presently because, none of the 10 franchises decided to “buy” Sourav… as if we would like the franchise owners telling us, what we should have for lunch… (Man! I wish one of them would! Then I can play the trump card, “I am a victim of the circumstances… These Rich people always scorn and interfere into the healthy life of us middle class citizens”!) My point here is, India is a Democratic Republic, and the Franchises belong to independent individuals, who have as much right as we do… They being Rich, and Public Figures, neither make them divine, nor give us right to make decisions for them!

Ganguly has been a tremendous cricketer and one of the best captains, in all forms of Sports. He was a guy, impartial, with instincts, and most of courage and confidence. He fought the Arrogant Aussies eyeball to eyeball, and returned the English sledging. There has never been a doubt about his class, and there never can be. But what we must accept is, every good thing must come to an end. The Franchise owners, they are all corporate officials… they know business way better than us… and somehow, Sourav doesn’t fit into their scheme. They know, it might be a risk putting their money behind an old horse and so, they thought better of it. Now, is it in our position to ask questions? It is their household, and hence their CHOICE!

Poor SRK… I really feel sorry for him! I can’t figure out why he is being portrayed as a villain by all. One eminent cricketer/selector has expressed his doubt (& I was shocked to read this) that perhaps, SRK hates Ganguly so much, that the humiliation of not being picked by any franchise, which was meted out to Sourav, was his handiwork! Libelous! There are several Cricketing reasons, for which, Ganguly was not a welcome choice to any of the teams.

I do not claim to be a great critic, or to have profound knowledge of the game. But what my simple understanding tells me is that Sourav himself is largely responsible for the insult he had to face. It is very necessary to be pragmatic in Life. Ganguly, who has been a brilliant reader of the game of Cricket should have seen this coming. He could have taken a path of honor like Anil Kumble did. It is important to know, where to stop… where one should draw the line…. The entry you get is often not of importance, but the exit you chose for yourself actually defines the manner in which you will be remembered.

To the people I say, “Get a Life Men!” This is one reason, I get annoyed with Indians in general, and Bangalis in particular. Being a Bangali myself, the manner in which such issues are magnified makes me feel sorry. I can guarantee one thing, in spite of not being a prophet. Today these people, some of them eminent and distinguished intellectuals, are blowing this whole matter into gigantic proportions. I firmly believe this is for cheap publicity as this sensitive issue provides them with a ladder to reach the public. I wonder why the political Dadas and Didis have already not joined the fray! If, Sourav would have been picked by any of the franchises, then, these people will run (naked?!) on the streets of Kolkata demanding that he be made the Captain! I have a potentially brilliant suggestion for all such fanatic supporters: None would deny that Ganguly is a rich person himself, and with his already flourishing restaurant and an upcoming school. So, being a small industrialist himself, may be tomorrow he (with financial backing from such die-hard supporters of his) buy an IPL team, and naming it Dadu’s (sic) XI!!! Well, Shane Warne has already proved his point by being the coach and captain of a team. This will be a novelty with Sourav Ganguly, as the Owner, Coach & Captain of his team! Rajnikanth issshtyle….

~ from the heart of a true Sourav fan & the brain of a realist