Bradmanesque ending for Dada

The air at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) ground was pregnant with anticipation as Sourav Ganguly strode in to play his last innings in international cricket. India were in a precarious position at 163/4, losing VVS Laxman’s wicket. The crowd of over 8,000 was on their feet, straining their veins, screaming his name. The Australians gathered in the middle to welcome him, this time not to chin music but to the sounds of dignified claps. Ganguly’s lucky red bandana was visible under the helmet.

He fist-bumped Sachin Tendulkar , his partner at the other end, and took guard. A crescendo of noise matched bowler Jason Krezja’s approach steps to the wicket till the release of the ball from his hands. Bowling around the wicket, he flighted the ball on a leg-stump line. Sourav played across, then stared in horror as the ball flew into the hands of a diving Krezja.

A first ball duck in his last innings, even the thought wouldn’t have crossed his mind. He looked up to the heavens, as if questioning the almighty for such a fate. If Shakespeare was present at the ground, he would’ve worn the broadest of smiles. He loved a heart-wrenching story, and drama as perfect as this merits admiration from the connoisseur.

Sourav prepared his last trudge back to the pavilion, bat under the arm, helmet in his hand with the bandana thrown in. He turned back to look over his shoulders a couple of times, almost imploring a reversal of fortunes. Then, with a final shrug, he quickened his pace for his final walk back.

The fans in the stadium who had barely settled into their seats, having given Sourav a standing ovation on his arrival, stood up again for the departure. Through the reverberating noise, some teary eyes, he disappeared into the concrete structure.

Sourav has one consolation though. He has Don Bradman for company. The Australian great too suffered the ignominy of scoring a duck in his last innings.

It’s fitting that Ganguly’s story turned out so dramatic. A 100 for the prologue, a duck as the epilogue and various acts of joys, grief and triumph in between. Take a bow Dada.