Originally published in Desicritics here.

I caught up with Saurav Ganguly, former Indian captain in Calcutta. In the interview, he disclosed that he is retiring from the game. The following are the excerpts from the interview:

Pratyush: When you made your test debut at Lords, every one had written you off.

Saurav Ganguly: Yes. It had also been said that I refused to carry drinks in Australia in 1991-92. It is very easy to write off any one. I have always believed to focus on the task at hand rather than what others have to say. In 1996, I had one inning to prove myself. Had I not score the century, I would most likely have been dropped soon after. I am glad how it panned out.

P: It has been a tremendous career. World Cup final, test series win versus Australia and victory away in Pakistan. Among all these what according to you is your biggest contribution to Indian cricket?

SG: If I had to pinpoint just one thing it would be ‘change of attitude’. From a team which accepted what it got, we transformed into one which would give it back to the opponents. On the field, we tried to make things happen rather than just wait for things to happen by themselves. Losing the World Cup Final is obviously a big disappointment but it took tremendous effort to reach there in the first place. India started winning matches abroad and not just at home. We won tests in Australia, England, West Indies and Zimbabwe. We had to wait for a series win till the Pakistan series. By then it was a question of when and not if we would win a series abroad.

P: What makes a strong team?

SG: Tremendous self belief, attitude, team bonding and match winners. On the field, you have to show the opponents that you are here to win the match and will not have it any other way. Body language plays a vital aspect. Match winners are the key though. Without players who can win matches on their own on their day, you are not going to develop a top team. People like Yuvraj, Harbhajan are tremendous players who can change the course of a match by themselves on a given day. Dhoni is the recent addition to this list and I am very happy for him.

P: The Pakistan team is doing very well. Is it due to match winner’s being there as well?

SG: Absolutely. Bob Woolmer is an excellent coach and he has handled his match winners very carefully. Whether it has been Shoaib Akhtar or Shahid Afridi. They have been backed. Fearless, they can shine to the fullest extent.

P: Sachin Tendulkar was criticized tremendously lately. What do you have to say on that?

SG: The fans and media should just give the topic a rest. Tendulkar should be left alone. He will perform again.

P: What next for Saurav Ganguly? Rahul Dravid has said that no one who is playing domestic cricket should rule himself out to make it to the team.

SG: The past few months have been tumultuous. I have been willing to play whichever role I have been assigned. Whether it was playing as an all rounder or carrying the drinks. I have done it all. I have made a come back with strong domestic performances only to be dumped again. One day selector A tells that no matter what, the doors are closed for me for the team. The focus shifted from the team to me. Some thing which never should have happened. From a team on the rise, India have lost the series in Pakistan and lost a match to what was essentially an England A team. This is not how I pictured the things for Team India. It is time to move forward. Despite what Rahul has to say, my playing days in the international arena are over.

P: Let me get this straight. So essentially you are saying that you have retired from international cricket?

SG: Yes. And I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the fans who have backed me over the recent difficult phase of my career.

P: Why now. Why not earlier or later.

SG: I believe I have given it a fair shot. Now it is time to move on.

P: So what’s next for Saurav Ganguly?

SG: We (family) will be going on a holiday. Then commentary beckons. I have a few offers. Will decide which is best for me in the near future. Also, I would be giving more time to the cricket academy at Salt Lake.

P: Thank you for the interview.

SG: Pleasure.

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