Ganguly Ends Speculation; Australia will Be His Last

The speculation is finally over. Sourav Ganguly is leading the way again and he is setting the state and trend of bowing out in a contrived scenario or not.

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While the Hindi news channels were speculating and flashing (with or without confirmation) that Sourav Ganguly had received a threat that his daughter would be kidnapped, the news that did make major headlines across all channels was that Ganguly had announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Australia series.

India's most successful skipper has had a tough time since Greg Chappell's reign and in some ways, Chappell may just have a silly grin up his face hearing the end of Ganguly's illustrious, if sometimes controversial, career.

Much has been said and written about the possibility of a deal being made between the senior members of the squad and the BCCI with respect to vacating their seats for younger fledgings. This has all the makings of it as well and while it is unfair to Ganguly, it is possible his selection in the first place for the first Tests was perhaps along those lines, though both parties have vehemently denied it as has skipper Anil Kumble. It remains unclear if Ganguly will only play the first two Tests or play out all four against the Australians.

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But the ding-dong of the bells are ringing loud and clear and Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar, their careers notwithstanding, will know it will not be too long in the future before they will face the day that Ganguly is today - with mixed emotions as he bids a wonderful chapter in Indian cricket adieu.

It has brought the hype of the series to a new crescendo. Ganguly himself would do well to keep his focus. After all there is still the Australian blood to draw.

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