The charisma of being Sourav Ganguly

In life, statistics are often misleading. More so, in the fickle world of professional sports. Statistics are often harsh and do not convey the impetus that a sportsman gives to his team and the sports as a whole. Sourav Ganguly is one such victim.
Few people remember the year 2000 when the Indian cricket was in tatters. The matters were turning ugly and the reputations were at stake. The demon of match-fixing was gaining momentum and every discussion was turning it even murkier. It was then that Dada held the reins of the Indian team.
Ganguly's charisma is infectious. You just cannot ignore him. He gave Indian cricket what we never wanted to have but always admired in others- the aggression and the courage to show it. His background helped him tremendously. The prince that he is, he commands respect from all. However, his greatest gift was his perfect eye for talent. After Imran Khan, he fitted this foil perfectly.
Sourav's contribution to Indian cricket is huge. No matter what the pundits of today write or comment about him, the fact is that he is a rare talent and an even rare leader. He freed our cricketers from the colonial hangover and gave them the courage to combat fire with fire and a sledge with sledge. Leadership is not wielding power. Its about empowering people. And that remains his greatest achievement till date. He gave a fair chance to all the youngsters and then backed them to the hilt. There is never a better leader than the one who is the source of confidence of his team members.
That Ganguly is synonymous to guts is no secret. I admit that when he was not picked up by the selectors, there was no injustice. He had lost his place on account of his poor form. But adversity brings out the true character of a man. He traveled to the dusty towns of the country, played on poor grounds and rubbed his shoulders with the lesser might. That he earned his way back into the team when all had written him off is a testimony to his unshakable confidence and the superiority of his persona.
Ganguly has given enough to Indian cricket to deserve a place in the high echelons of our cricket history. That critics put him on trial every time he wields the willow in his hands is sheer injustice to him. But then people still complain that Kumble cannot spin the leg-break.