Bad form, an elbow injury or the vanishing blessings of a very influential board member -- what cost Sourav Ganguly the hottest job in Indian cricket?
While analysts debate the decision to remove Ganguly from the captaincy, most appear to support the appointment of his long-time deputy Rahul Dravid. However, one question begs for an answer -- what role did the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongman Jagmohan Dalmiya play?
It's public knowledge that Ganguly has always found a strong supporter in Dalmiya, but this time it seems the man who unofficially runs the country's cricket administration may have let Ganguly down in his worst hour as a cricketer.
The argument that Ganguly was removed either because of his poor form or elbow injury may have loopholes.
True, his cricketing feats in the last two years are nothing to write home about. But equally true is the fact that the selectors decided to drop him after he scored a century in Zimbabwe and India won its first Test series outside the subcontinent in nearly two decades.
So, if form was the criterion for removing Ganguly from the captaincy, is the timing right? Perhaps no.
Next comes the question of his fitness, both physical and mental.
Here, the natural question being asked by Ganguly sympathisers is if he is to give a fitness test in three days' time, then what is the hurry to name the captain? Is it that the selectors already knew he would not make the team?
He is not in the team for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, but the way things are turning out Ganguly's sympathisers doubt if India's most successful captain is going to make the team at all for the rest of the home series even if he proves his fitness.
| |||||||||||
At this point it might all look like conjecture, but several uncanny coincidences are forcing one to suspect that the Ganguly-Dalmiya bonhomie is virtually over.
Dravid as captain, even for two series, could solve a few problems for Dalmiya as his unquestioned hold over the BCCI gradually wanes.
There is little doubt that the Dalmiya camp would have lost the BCCI election had he not managed to get the proceedings postponed, and thus, buy time.
Now, he has a job at hand -- to win over as many detractors as possible from the 'south lobby' that has long wanted Dravid as captain, say BCCI sources.
This may or may not be entirely true, but it is definitely interesting to note that the elections are going to be held before November 30 and Dravid's tenure as captain for the two series ends two days before that.
So, the question Ganguly's sympathisers are asking is whether the top cricket administrator's survival instincts forced him to sacrifice the skipper?
If Dravid fails and Ganguly is back in the team and he hits form, then the latter could once again don the mantle of captaincy. No questions will be asked.
If Ganguly fails to comeback, then also no questions will be asked.
Only, India's most successful captain would have to accept an unceremonious exit.
Photograph: Getty Images
More from rediff