Sourav 'Dada' Ganguly vs 'Captain Cool' Dhoni: Who's the better leader? (Part 1)

The endless debate – Dhoni vs Ganguly

When India won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, captain MS Dhoni added a 3rd ICC trophy to his already overflowing trophy cabinet. He had already led India to a World Cup and World T20 triumph. He is hence the only captain to have won all 3 major ICC titles. Apart from this, he can also boast of a Champions League T20 and 2 IPL trophies to his name and has thus consolidated himself as India’s most successful captain.

But when it comes to being called India’s “best ever” captain, he gets some serious competition from the “Bengal Tiger”, Sourav Ganguly, the man from whom he truly inherited Team India. “Dada”, as Ganguly is affectionately called, can be credited to a large extent for turning the Indian team into the force it is today. Who is India’s best ever captain, Ganguly or Dhoni, is thus a debate which can go on and on and on, just like the debate on who is the greatest of all time, Sir Don or Sachin.

Sourav Ganguly

It was the dawn of a new millennium. The year was 2000. Instead of looking excitedly towards a new future, world cricket found itself plunged into an abyss and fighting a seemingly unknown, but formidable new foe, called match-fixing. Many international players, most prominent being the late Hansie Cronje, the-then South Africa captain, were found involved. Among those found guilty also included India captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja. Azharuddin, ironically, had just been re-appointed as India’s captain after disastrous results under Sachin Tendulkar.

In what BBC called “Indian cricket‘s darkest hour”, up stepped a man to take over the reigns, someone who had previously been criticised for his princely ways. Sourav Ganguly, belonging to a prominent Kolkata family, was given the charge. He knew exactly what was to be done, and in order to turn his team into a fighting unit, did what today’s generation has taken to an entirely new level. He instilled the hitherto lacking aggressiveness in the team. In the 2001 Test series at home against Australia, he stood up to the mighty Australians and gave them a taste of their own medicine.

If irritating Steve Waugh by making him wait for a toss, not once but four times, was not enough, then what about his bare-chested shirt waving act in the balcony of Lord’s? That was apparently a mocking of Andrew Flintoff who had done the same after England won an ODI in India in 2001. Being such a hothead that he was, the presence of wise men like John Wright, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble must have also helped him a lot as they must have done their bit in helping Dada out on numerous occasions.

Under him, India became a very competitive side. He took India to the 2002 Natwest Series final where they chased down a mammoth England total leading to Dada’s now (in)famous balcony act. Also under him, India won 8 straight matches to reach the final of the 2003 World Cup. This side consisted of many young players who went from being boys to men under Ganguly – Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif. Except Kaif, the rest have enjoyed successful careers and were integral members of 2011 World Cup winning team.

He also revived the team’s away fortunes as he led India to a famous 1-1 draw Down Under in 2003-04. Equally unforgettable was his magnificent 144 at the Gabba against a high quality Aussie attack. A darling in West Bengal, he also led India to a 3-2 win over Pakistan in the historic 2004 tour.

He suffered a loss of form around 2004-05 and to make matters worse, John Wright was replaced as coach by Greg Chappell. What followed was the most tumultuous phase in his career as he was not only sacked as captain but dropped from the team as well. He never saw eye-to-eye with Chappell and his sacking from the team led to protests, especially in Bengal; such was the passion, love and the respect he commanded among one and all.

After making a comeback into the team for the tour of South Africa in 2006-07, Dada once again became a regular in Team India and retired in 2008 following a 2-0 Test victory at home against Australia. He later captained IPL teams Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors India, both of which could not flourish under him and soon retired from all forms of cricket.

He may not have been as successful as Dhoni statistically and may not have an ICC trophy to show for his efforts, but what made him stand apart from Dhoni and other India captains was his aggressive attitude and the ability to lead his troops in most difficult times. The loss to Australia in their 2003 World Cup group match had sparked violent reactions back home, but he took it on his chin and led India to a runners-up finish.

He united an Indian team and turned it into “Team India”, as we call our team today. His policy of infusing youth in the team paid rich dividends. He may have had some of his own shortcomings both as a person and captain, but it was he who revived the fortunes of a team on the brink of collapse and turned it into a bunch of world-beaters. He was hence not just a captain, but a leader of his men.

Thus, it is not for nothing that the “Prince of Trinidad” Brian Lara recently called the “Prince of Calcutta” the best Indian captain he has ever seen.

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