If not Sourav Ganguly, who can?

Everyone knows that Sourav Ganguly, nearing 39, retired from international cricket almost 3 years ago, and has not played a single first class match post-IPL3 a year back. Yet, even the harshest of his critics would not rule out the possibility of him making a strong comeback. This is what the "warrior" has earned over his years of War! The man who refuses to fade away. The man who didn't have the slightest of inferiority complex playing alongside two of the World's most successful and technically adept batsmen ever! The man who had still managed to stamp his authority in international cricket with his talent and attitude! The man who had been bogged down by pressure time and again, only to bounce back with tremendous character, like a ball that rises up on being thrust into water!

This man would always top the list of the most prolific ODI opening pairs, with the most successful batsman ever as partner. Though Sachin's longevity and consistency cannot be compared, to be his opening partner and make a mark as one of the world's best opening partnership, is an indication of how great a batsman he was. And, 11,000+ runs with 22 tons in 300 odd matches would make him one of the greatest to have played this version of the game.

Sourav would also be included in "Fab 4" of Indian Test cricket despite having scored just half the number of centuries that Sachin or Dravid have managed. This tells us that he was something more than a regular batsman. His contribution to Indian cricket cannot be measured in runs. He was a leader in its true sense. A leader who could inspire a team with occasional valiant knocks like the century in a damp seaming Brisbane pitch; A commander who didn't let his personal form come in the way of his team's success; An Architect who started building "Team India" which is now standing tall and handsome with a crowning World cup!

But then, when the team was finally made a winning unit, he was dumped for form. The architect was done away with, as the building looked easier to complete. Sourav's most valuable craft- his leadership, was no more required. Yet, when many would resign to the fact and look forward to a different means of living, Sourav believed he could still qualify as a batsman, if not as a builder.

Sourav Ganguly, the Captain was dead, or rather, killed. But, Sourav Ganguly, the person was still breathing! The rest, as they say, is history!

And the same Sourav Ganguly, the person, has come out once again to prove his detractors wrong! But this is, by far, the biggest challenge in Sourav's checkered career! People are waiting for the smallest of his flaws to pounce on him! (Lakhs of fans of Bollywood icon SRK included). Many of his own fans are sceptic about his ability to bounce back at this age and that too without much of a practice.

Still, no one in the game is known to have the belief and ability to comeback like Sourav Ganguly.

The bottomline:- "If not Sourav Ganguly, who can?"