Will 19th May be Dada’s farewell game?

Will 19^th May be Dada ’s last official cricketing game? That’s the BIG question all Dada fans are asking.

If indeed 19^th May is Dada ‘s last cricketing assignment, it will bring curtains to a career envied and endeavoured by many. I’m sure in terms of records, Bengal hasn’t seen any cricketer of Ganguly’s stature and it’s difficult to see Bengal see another cricketer of the same aura coming up soon. Hence many Bengalis are reluctant to see Dada go as a cricketer. In him, they see someone whom they can relate to in their dreams. Are Dada fans clamoring for 1 more IPL season? I feel that it will be a bit cruel on the great guy!

For a cricket crazy city, Kolkata will dearly miss him. In IPL, Dada’s fans were able to see him once a year, even if for less than a couple of months. They were happy that he was still in the fray!

Great cricket columnist Ayaz Memon mentioned on 5^th May that Sourav Ganguly reversed the clock by a decade the day when KKR met Pune Warriors at Eden Gardens. Famous Quiz master and now MP Derek Obrien tweeted – Bengal was partitioned in 1905 and Eden Gardens was divided on 5^th May. For many Kolkatans, it was a most difficult day. They were divided in their support towards KKR and their Dada!

Once again on 19^th May, KKR will play Pune Warriors to end both franchises’ last league assignment. This time though, the game takes place in the latest iconic cricket ground of Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune.

When Sourav rested or dropped himself in the match against RCB, most leading channels were talking about Dada that day. It still seems amazing for a man who retired from active international cricket 4 years back!

Many Ganguly fans will hope for a “one last time” performance from him. Yes, Dada fans were vastly disappointed with his team’s performance during IPL5. Some feel that they were let down by Dada. It was a case when Sourav didn’t plan his preparations well enough. Playing domestic cricket and then facing world’s best fast bowlers is not an easy task, after all not everyone is Adam Gilchrist. But as many fans say, Ganguly is a phoenix and a phoenix never dies, it just rises from the ashes.

As someone commented – once a Gangulyian, always a Gangulyian! We all Dada fans will wait for the proceedings following 19^th May once again with a lot of eagerness!