Ganguly revels in day dreams

By John Cheeran
Whenever Sourav Ganguly gets into double digits at the batting crease, it is a cause for joy, celebration and reviving his World Cup campaign.
Former Indian skipper has maintained powerful spin doctors in the Indian media.
The moment Ganguly scored a hundred representing East Zone against North Zone in a Duleep Trophy match, it all began again.
For the record, Ganguly remained unbeaten on 118 on the third day. There were big hopes then. How he could take the battle into the North Zone camp by scoring big.
North Zone had amassed a huge total. But though he was the East Zone skipper Ganguly had no intention to fight for team cause.
On the fourth morning, Ganguly, after reading the headlines in newspapers, exited. East Zone were soon bowled out for 295.
Ganguly’s breathless supporters even pointed out that Chairman of Selectors Dileep Vengsarkar has not even selected the Test team for South African team.
Now with doubts lingering on Yuvraj Singh’s availability for the World Cup, doesn’t he have chance?
Hope springs eternal.
Immediately after scoring the century, Ganguly said he is hoping for a World Cup berth.
“I hope to play the World Cup. My target is to play in the big event. My job is to play and score runs. It is up to the selectors to decide the team.”
It is easy to forget context in cricket and it is a cardinal sin.
It is true that Ganguly scored 118. But in the same match North Zone’s young fast bowler Joginder Sharma had frustrated East Zone with 122. A an innings that should be valued more than Ganguly’s as anyone should tell you. And it was poetic justice that Joginder packed off Ganguly from the crease.
For North Zone, Gautam Gambhir and Yashpal Singh too had made useful contributions.
The key thing is this. Even if Ganguly scores, there are other youngsters who are outscoring and outperforming Ganguly consistently. How can Ganguly override them?
In a simultaneous Duleep Trophy match, Indian opener Robin Utthappa reminded national selectors about his credentials with a splendid 141 against the Sri Lanka A. Uthappa was playing for South Zone.
Arjun Yadav, former India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav's son, too came up with a century for South Zone, that too in crisis. Arjun remained unbeaten on 133 when South Zone were all out for 266 in the first innings.
All these only show how tough thecompetition is despite the talent crunch Vengsarkar faces .
In the same match, Dinesh Karthick, who has got the selectors’ nod for South African one-day tour made 95.
The bottom line is clear.
Ganguly may score runs. But he cannot prevent others from outperforming him.