Dada(giri) Returns, with a Bong!

During the third one-dayer against south Africa,when India were tottering around on the field hapless as usual, Robin Jackmann asked Ravi Shastri a simple question “ Raaavi…Where are the Laxmans and Gangulys” .. Ravi Shastri was diplomatic.. “Robin.. Laxman will definitely be back in the Test side” and preferred to go silent on Ganguly's chances…

The BCCI selection committee has answered Robin’s question, and so our beloved Dada is back in the test side…And if you thought Ganguly’s return to the Indian team is more of a political move, than one taken on sporting merit, let me present to you excerpts from the first press meet that Sourav had after being called back…. You can draw your own conclusions from some extremely thought provoking answers from the Bengal Cat (A tiger that doesn’t roar)

Q: You have always been optimistic about returning to the team earlier than what most people would think, and your faith has paid off

Dada: Yes, I was always sure that I will win the vote of confidence of the majority of people who matter

Q: You also insisted that retirement was never on your mind..

Dada: Of course, there are some games, where there is no mandatory age for retirement, and you can continue to play till you have the will

Q: You even gave up Bengal captaincy in the wake of a probability that you might make it to Team India

Dada: I read somewhere that one can't hold two offices of profit simultaneously..so I thought I may not qualify to join the Team in Blue, if I continued captaining West Bengal Ranji team

Q: Sharad Pawar had a word with the BCCI selectors before the team was announced. Do you think running an organization with dual power centres is good in the long run

Dada: Depends on how you define long run. The country is running on dual power centre model for the last two years and likely to last for another three years, this way. Is this long term or short term, or has this hampered the country’s progress?

Q: Your form per se has not been really great either in county or in Ranji. What do you think contributed to your inclusion.

Dada: Anti-incumbency. Either you do well, or wait for others to do badly. (* the naughty Prince of Calcutta smile just got bigger than ever*)

Q: Finally, your relationship with the coach is not enviable by any standards. How do you think you are going to get along in your second stint

Dada: In this game, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends. Situations change, and along with that, people also need to change.

The entire media contingent were awestruck by the pearls of wisdom from the former captain, and they actually thought they were interviewing Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee before the West Bengal State elections!