Pics : Sourav Ganguly Rewards Winners of Ganga Motors Cup - Cricket Tournament

Kolkata, April 27 : Sourav Ganguly on Saturday Rewarded Winners of Ganga motors Cup Mainland Sambaran Academy's Cricketers

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly Recieves CSJC Special Award for His Contribution to Indian Cricket

CSJC(Calcutta Sports Journalist Club) presents best sportsperson award.


Announcing the names of other sportsperson from West Bengal who have had been nominated as ‘Best' in different sports disciplines, CSJC president S Sabanayakan informed that the club has also decided to felicitate Indian athletics legend Milkha Singh with ‘Life Time Achievement' award for his contribution to Indian sports.

The club  also honoured Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia and former Indian Cricket Captain Sourav Ganguly for their contributions to Indian sports at a function  held in the Town Hall of Kolkata on Saturday ( April 27) evening at 5-30 p.m.

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Lalit Modi Sees BCCI's Hand in DADA's ouster from International Cricket as well as IPL

On an average it's 40 tweets per game, and that's one per every over bowled during the IPL. Lalit Modi still keeps himself busy during matchdays, so what if his mornings and afternoons in London are spent furiously working his fingers over the smartphone to share his thoughts on social media.Now Lalit in His Twitter Account has Revealed that DADA was a Victim of BCCI Politics. Check out his Tweets here.

 ©Getty Images

Yes "@arun_raghavn: @lalitkmodi BCCI Politics the reason behind Dada going unsold in IPL 4 despite scoring 494 runs in IPL 3 ?"
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 26, 2013

Yes @mainakkanjilal: @lalitkmodi:do u think sashank manohar played a big role behind ganguly's early retirement?"
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 26, 2013

For sure @gaurav22m: @lalitkmodi u answrng evry1ns ques bt nt my..sir was dada d victim of srini mama dirty ipl politics?"
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 21, 2013

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly at the Unveiling of a Cricket Tournament Named after his Father Chandi Ganguly

City based Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM), the organizer of Inter College T-20 Premier Cricket League, Thursday named the champions trophy of the tournament after Chandi Ganguly, the former secretary of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and father of former captain of Indian cricket team Sourav Ganguly.

Sourav Ganguly formally unveiled the trophy at in the presence of his elder brother and former Ranji and Duleep trophy player Snehasish Ganguly and medium pacer Shami Ahmed and all rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla.

Speaking on the occasion Sourav Ganguly congratulated EIILM for organizing the tournament and said, "It is nice to see university cricket starting here. I hope the tournament would be a success and provide a supply line of players".

The tournament, which is now six years old, will begin from Friday with a total of sixteen teams from various colleges and universities across West Bengal.

The Institute also felicitated Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Shami Ahmed along with motor rallyist Amittrajit Ghosh for their excellence in their respective field. 

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly at Eden Gardens - KKR vs MI - April 24, 2013

Kolkata, April 24,2013 : Mumbai Indians got back to their winning ways, albeit, in the last over, for a five-wicket verdict over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday night. 

After KKR posted a competitive 159, MI batsmen, led by Dwayne Smith, chased it down with just a ball to spare. And Sourav Ganguly was there at Eden Gardens to see the Birthday Boy in Action.

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©BCCI

©ABP

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Sachin at 40 : Sourav Ganguly's Tribute to the Master - Audio + INTERVIEW + Column

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly remembers his best moments with the Little Master, who turns 40 on Wednesday. Ganguly feels no cricketer will emulate Tendulkar's 100 international centuries in the next 50 years!

Audio Interview to BBC :

Sourav Ganguly Talks to BBC on Sachin Tendulkar - Sachin at 40: 

As Sachin Tendulkar turns 40, BBC 5 live sport speaks to those closest to him about what makes him so good, what he means to India, and how much longer he's got left in the game.

" The Hunger Will not Go Away " - Sourav Ganguly & Rahul Dravid on Sachin:

  Exclusive Interview to The Telegraph on Sachin : 


By LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI :

Calcutta: Sourav Ganguly spoke to The Telegraph exclusively on Sachin Tendulkar.

Owing to an illness in the family, the one-on-one, on Tuesday, had to be kept somewhat brief.

Incidentally, Sourav and Sachin still hold the record for the maximum 100-plus partnerships in ODIs — 21.

Sourav quit playing for India in late 2008, Sachin is now only available for Test cricket.

The following are excerpts

You turned 40 last July... Just how different did you feel that day and thereafter?

Maybe, had I still been playing, I would have felt a little different. Sachin’s bound to feel differently, for he’s playing and, so, needs to continue doing things which active sportsmen need to do.

Did you, in any way, take fresh guard?

No.

Is 40 just a number?

 Depends on the individual... For me, it was just another birthday last year. Turning 40 didn’t mean anything very special.

In a few hours, Sachin turns 40...

I hope he has a good match (for the Mumbai Indians against the Kolkata Knight Riders) and I hope he has a good year.

What will you tell Sachin on Wednesday?

I’ll wish him a good year ahead.

You’ve known Sachin for over two decades. Has he changed as a person?

Sachin has changed, but I don’t mean in any negative way... He’s more mature and, with maturity, comes better handling of responsibilities. I suppose one’s thought process changes a bit on turning 40.

How?

At 40, the exuberance of youth isn’t there and, being more mature, you probably react to situations better.

What’s the one quality which stands out the most in Sachin?

On and off the field, he’s aware of situations and always knows how to respond to them.

You’ve had such a long association with Sachin... Where cricket memories go, what comes to mind instantly?

There are so many memories... We played together in over 100 Tests and, possibly, 300 ODIs... I can’t pick and choose... But to talk of Sachin as a person, well, his humility stands out.

Will you be at the Eden on Wednesday evening?

I think so.

Finally... Many believe that life begins at 40. What’s your take?

(Laughs) Life begins at every stage... At 20, at 30, at 40... The only difference, perhaps, is that one reacts to situations in a better way.

©TheTelegraph


Sourav Ganguly's TRIBUTE to Sachin - OUTLOOKINDIA :

Sachin and I go back a real long way. The first time I met Sachin was at an under-14 camp at Indore. Both of us were 13, Sachin eight months younger, and we were there at the camp conducted by Vasu Paranjpe under the aegis of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. Sanjay Jagdale, the current BCCI secretary, was instrumental in putting the camp together. The first thing I noticed was that the curly-haired boy from Bombay just loved to bat. He was the first at the nets and just kept batting. Such was his passion and intensity that Vasu had to eventually pull him out on occasions. Sachin would just bat, bat and bat. At the camp itself, everyone was talking about him and it was apparent to us all that he was blessed with special talent. He would hold the bat lower than the norm; this would mean that he’d not feel the pressure of his heavy bat. He already had all the shots in the book and timed the ball beautifully.

Read the Entire Column at OUTLOOKINDIA : Straight Batting Tales

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I Miss Sourav, Rahul, Anil & VVS in the Dressing Room : Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar prepares for an interview just as he prepares to bat. He has his focus and his priorities. The phone is put on silent mode, the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door is in place. His time management is impeccable, so is his clarity of thought.

Ahead of his 40th birthday, as he enters the twilight of his career, the Master spoke exhaustively to The Hindu.

Q: How have you dealt with the retirement/dropping of senior players from the Indian team?

A: Obviously you miss them after having played with them for such a long time. To not have them in the dressing room is a phase where the new generation is taking over. Luckily the new-generation guys have been part of the one-day squad, so I know them. We have spent time with each other before they have become part of the Test squad. They are not new to me. You will always miss the great players, Anil [Kumble], Sourav [Ganguly], Rahul [Dravid], [V.V.S.] Laxman. I miss them.

 ©The Hindu

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Revealed : Subrata Roy's Facebook Wall and Sourav Ganguly's Reply

Just for Fun - No Offence :

By : DolphinBay4

Having lost majority of the matches in IPL 6, Pune Warriors India Owner Subrata Roy lashed out at his team in his facebook wall.

You can Create Such Funny Facebook Walls at statusclone.com

If you Have Such Funny Stuffs - Do Mail us at SouravGangulyCoBlog@gmail.com

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Pics : Fans With Sourav Ganguly Banners/Posters Across Stadiums in India - IPL 6

Though Sourav Ganguly Called it a day, he is still the Darling of masses when it comes to Fan base & Fan Loyalty. 5 Years since his Retirement from international cricket and still fans miss him badly. And Here are some Exclusive Fan Banners & Posters Exhibited by his fans all across the country during IPL 6.

66th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai - May 15, 2013

                              25th match - Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab

Naveen Reddy & His Friend at Hyderabad

                        19th match - Chennai Super Kings v Pune Warriors at Chepauk 

Goutham Kumar at Chepauk

Goutham Kumar at Chepauk

1st match - Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils

A Fan with a Poster at Eden - "We Miss you DADA "

If you Have any such Pics of Dada Posters/banners do Mail us at souravgangulycoblog@gmail.com

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly Honours Winners of Women's Invitation Cricket tournament at Kolkata

Jhulan Goswami hit 67 to help Shambazar triumph in the Women’s Invitational cricket tournament, organised by Shambazar Club, on Saturday. They beat Bhowanipore Club in the final by five runs.And Sourav Ganguly Handed over Prizes to the Winners. 

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly Launches Rajnish Gambhir's Book at Kolkata

Kolkata : Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly Saturday released a book by debut writer Rajnish Gambhir, titled 'A Passion Beyond Extremes-a saga of love, deception and crime.' 

Oxford Bookstore, Kolkata and Leadstart publishers Saturday launched the book which the publishers claim is a captivating story about ambition, love, betrayal and murder.

The book release was followed by the author's conversation with prominent writer and jounalist, Kishore Bhimani and public relations expert, Rita Bhimani.

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                                                               © Rajdeep Dutta

                                                           © Rajdeep Dutta

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I will be missing DADA in IPL6 - Angelo Mathews

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has been appointed captain of the Pune for the sixth edition of the T20 Cricket League. Mathews found himself in the hot seat after Michael Clarke, the first choice skipper for the Warriors, was ruled out of cricket for about 10 weeks by Cricket Australia, following a back problem. The Australian captain had to miss the last of the four-match Test series against India due to his troubled back.

Dada was the Captain of PWI last year, now the charges have been entrusted with Angelo Matthews. Angelo told  "Personally I will be missing Dada as i played most of IPL matches under his Leadership be it KKR or PWI ".

©ABP

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Sourav Ganguly’s Surprise Visit to Eden Gardens – KKR vs DD April 3, 2013

Five minutes into the start of the game , Sourav walked in at the Eden amid huge cheers. He ‘enjoyed’ the proceedings thoroughly and considered KKR to be one of the favourites to win the title.He watched the match from the lower tier of the club house, did not go to any hospitality boxes. Sourav seemed to be quite happy on Wednesday when KKR began their IPL-VI campaign with a victory over the Delhi DareDevils.

Asked what makes the Knights favourites, Sourav said: “They have a trump card called Sunil Narine. He is their key player. He will again create an impact this season.”

Speaking about KKR’s chances in the tournament, the former captain said: “I am pleased to see them play so well. I am happy for their victory. A win in the first match is always vital. Now, they need to build on this momentum.”

Sourav feels that the absence of Virender Sehwag hurt Delhi DareDevils’ chances. “Viru’s absence was a huge blow to Delhi. But then, injuries are a part and parcel of the game. You cannot control it. But I hope that he recovers fast.”

©TelegraphIndia & ABP

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Sourav Ganguly's Column : On His Retirement from IPL & also on IPL 6

Sourav Ganguly's Column in WISDENINDIA:

I played in five editions of the Indian Premier League for two different teams. A few months after the IPL last year, I decided to stop playing. It doesn’t feel odd because my decision was well thought out, and I have no regrets. I finally do feel like I’ve retired from the cricket ground.

I am quite excited about this year’s IPL, and looking forward to some more innovations in the Twenty20 format. I will certainly follow Kolkata Knight Riders, my home team, closely. The other teams that I will be following through the season are Chennai Super Kings, one of the most consistent sides in the tournament, Mumbai Indians – who have a well-balanced side, and Pune Warriors, who I represented for two editions of the IPL.

This IPL season is an important one for senior players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan. All three had been dropped from Indian squads in recent times, and I’m sure a stunning performance at the IPL will get them back in the selectors’ thoughts. Good performance irrespective of format gets noticed. Gambhir got a hundred against Australia in the warm-up match ahead of the Test series, and the selectors called for him when Shikhar Dhawan was out injured. For him, it won’t matter that this is a Twenty20 tournament.

Many promising, domestic players have been signed by different teams this year, like Sandeep Warrier for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sachin Baby for Rajasthan Royals, Sandeep Sharma for Kings XI Punjab and Parveez Rasool for Pune Warriors. I’ll have my eyes on Rasool for sure. His performance against the Australians in the warm-up game, where he took seven wickets for 45 runs, was impressive and he also batted well. The other young Indian players that I expect big things from are Unmukt Chand and Shikhar Dhawan, who will be back in two weeks.

As for Indian bowlers, Sreesanth is one to watch. He has been through a rigorous fitness regime and I would like to see how he has improved, because a bowler like him will be valuable in the Indian bowling line-up over the next 15 months. Harbhajan Singh at Mumbai Indians and RP Singh, bought by RCB in the 2013 auction, are the other bowlers who I feel will impress this season.

The newly formed Sunrisers Hyderabad will be a surprise package. Most of the players have been retained from Deccan Chargers and with a new management, they should be raring to go. Deccan Chargers hadn’t looked their best since winning the title in 2009, but Sunrisers Hyderabad could be a different story.

As we all know, Twenty20 is a format where it’s very difficult to predict a winner. Momentum can swing either way in a matter of balls, so I will refrain from making any predictions. But I do believe that Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore are most likely to make the final four.

Ever since I retired, I’ve been asked if I miss being in the dressing room. I can honestly say that I don’t. As for whether I’d take up a coaching or consultancy role, I haven’t given it any thought. I will take things as they come.

©WISDENINDIA

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Interview : Sourav Ganguly on His Favourites & Darkhoses for IPL 6

KOLKATA: IPL-6 will surely be poorer without Dada’s presence on the field.
By his own admission, he has had enough. "You can't go on forever. I enjoyed it for five seasons," said Sourav, who plans to follow the tournament on television this time. TOI caught up with the former India captain for his take on the new season which gets under way in his own backyard on Wednesday. Sourav, who played for KKR in the first three seasons and the next two with Pune Warriors, was strictly 'neutral' while making his assessments.



How tough will it be for KKR to retain the IPL crown this year?
It was a huge achievement for KKR to win the title last season. It was a long wait, but they deserved the success, having played consistently good cricket throughout the tournament. Now they have to do it all over again. It will be tough, no doubt, but having done it once, they certainly know what it takes to go all the way. Chennai Super Kings have shown that it can be done, so there is no reason why KKR can't do the same.

Do you agree that Mumbai Indians have underachieved in the first five seasons?
I wouldn't say that they have underachieved. Mumbai Indians have made the knockout phase in the last three seasons besides winning the Champions League T20 title once. They also made the final in 2010 when they lost to CSK. They are a good all-round side. It is just that they have come up short in big matches.

How do you rate Mumbai's chances?
This year, they have made interesting additions. They have a new but highly experienced coach in John Wright, the well-respected Anil Kumble as their mentor and senior pro Ricky Ponting as captain. Along with Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh's experience, you have exciting youngsters in Glenn Maxwell, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu. They are a formidable unit and will be strong contenders for the title.

Which are the teams to watch out for?
I will be following the fortunes of KKR, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and, of course, CSK.

What makes CSK such a hot property?
Look, they have won the title twice (2010 and 2011) and lost two finals (2008 and 2012). The only year they failed to make the final was in 2009 in South Africa, but they still made the semis. They have the right mix and a very strong contingent of Indian players. Their biggest achievement is that they have built a strong team by retaining key players and not making too many changes in their line-up.

Any dark horses?
The tournament format, coupled with the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, makes it hazardous to make random guesses. The key to a successful campaign lies in making a good start and finishing strongly. It is tough for teams to perform every third or fourth day over eight weeks in extremely harsh conditions. You are bound to lose a few games along the way, but it is important to peak at the right time to be able to carry the momentum with you in the knockout stages.

What do you expect from Hyderabad?
They have a new-look side but have a strong pace attack led by Dale Steyn, Thisara Perera and Ishants Sharma.

© TOI

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