End of an era as Ganguly walks into sunset

Sourav Ganguly on Monday bid farewell to international cricket amid emotional scenes with more than 18,000 runs under his belt and leaving a rich legacy for the posterity at the end of a 16-year controversy-marred tumultuous career.

In between his century in the debut Test in 1992 and the Bradmanesque exit for a duck in the final innings, Ganguly's has been an unputdownable story with umpteen twists and turns and in the end of it all, the 'God on the off-side' walked out with his head held high.

His retirement, topping Anil Kumble's exit after the third Test, was timed with the same precision that has been the hallmark of his batting. With the departure of these two, three of the 'Fab Five' -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, will still continue to don the Test cap for India.

Whether the controversial soccer-style shirt waving from the Lord's balcony or the easy-going manner that got him a sobriquet 'Lord Snooty', Ganguly had his own style that also often him in controversies.

His brush with new coach Greg Chappell got him out of the team and he also picked up a fight with his mentor Jagmohan Dalmiya only to make up with him later. He staged a come back into the national team after cooling his heels for nine months.

In the midst of media speculation over the 'Fab Five', Ganguly also hit back saying he knew when to go but when the actual announcement of his retirement came before the start of the series, it did come as a surprise to many. He will now play in the Indian Premier League -- domestic cricket with internationals stars.

In an era dominated by Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, Ganguly was also one of the best batsman around, both statistically and aesthetically. Each of the 18,000-plus runs he scored, mostly piercing the off-side, showed he knew how to put the bat to the ball.