Sourav Ganguly Pays Tribute to Leander Paes

Hats off. Nothing more to say. By becoming Grand Slam Champion at the age of 40, he has proved everybody that age is not a factor. The important thing here is your mentality and your game. Myself and Leander, in childhood, together trained under PK Banerjee (former legendary Bengal footballer). Since then we are close friends. Both of us were quiet thin then, at that time we didn't dream't of anything high. I didn't think that i would play for India and Leander too didn't think of winning Wimbledon at that time. Since the day i saw him, his attitude inspired me. He was ready and steady all the time. I have spent so much time with Leander, never saw him yawning. He doesn't think too much about what's going to happen in the future. His attitude makes him believe that there is no reason why the thing which he though of would not happen.

I also want to congratulate Vace Uncle (Leander's father). He is a terrific man. Both I and Leander are so successful in our career. The main reason behind that being our fathers. Vace uncle worked a lot behind Leander. Lee (Leander's short name) had a lot of skills and adding to that his father's training and his own attitude. That's reflecting in the results. A friend was asking me, if Sachin goes to South Africa, will he get inspiration from Leander. I would say both yes and no. Leander's success at 40 would inspire any sportsman of same age.Specially for those whose performance solely depends on skill and fitness. But cricket and tennis are  different sports that i doubt if the inspiration will fetch any result.Tennis is a world level tough sport. A slight difference in fitness between players can even make Federer bow out from the tournament. But cricket is a 1-ball game. Here Dale Steyn comes and Bowlsl at 90miles speed. I poor selection of shot and you are out. No second chance. Also, cricket is a team sport.Your selection needs to be permitted by different people. But Tennis is a personal game. Had Tennis be a team-sport, talks would have already started regarding the age of Leander and various negative comments would have been made by the higher authorities. So the big difference in tennis is Leander himself is his own selector. Will he quit at 40 or continue till 43, its his personal decision. Even in those stages  where tennis is a team sport (Olympic, Asiad, Davis cup), lot of negative comments were made about Leander by the authorities.

I am overwhelmed by Leander's achievement. Remembered that in the childhood he used to get charged up whenever there was a competition.That's his special asset.When i was the Indian Captain, i had lots of chat with Leander. When i had an operation in 2003 (remember the Home Test Series vs NZ and ODI Tri-Series with NZ and AUS) lee used to visit me every night at Bellevue nursing home. Ever since he shifted to Mumbai,our meetings became occasional .I think why doesn't he stay in Kolkata anymore? if he can share his stories with the local players that would be very inspiring. Why only tennis, his expertise can be off big help in cricket also. If CAB can talk to him to stage a 2-day fitness camp for Bengal team, that would be very good for the team.But don't know whether he would get time for it. As of now, i'm searching for his USA number to congratulate him,otherwise i have to leave a SMS to his Mumbai number only.

Courtesy : ABP
Translated By : Shrayan Sen
Edited By : Arun Raghavan

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Wonderful Motivational Talk By Sourav Ganguly for the Bengal U19 Team

Calcutta: For the young cricketers of Bengal, Friday morning was an experience of a lifetime. Sourav Ganguly held a 40-minute motivational session and the future stars of Bengal cricket listened in rapt attention.

This was the first time that Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) organised something like this and going by the mood of the young cricketers they liked it to the hilt.

Sourav told them they should make their own destiny. “If somebody tells you to play like Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid, do not listen to him. They never followed anyone. They did what they felt was right. So do what you feel is good for you.”

For promising batsman Ankit Kesri this is something he never expected. “He told us to be what we are… And that was very new to us. Generally we are told to be like someone and he said to be someone. It’s really motivating. He spoke about cricket in general and this is a great learning experience. We too lobbed in a few questions and he was very candid in his replies,” the Under-19 player said.

Sourav later said these types of motivational sessions are good, “but at the end of the day it’s the cricketer who will have to fight in the 22-yard strip.” Bengal’s newly-appointed coaching committee chairman said he enjoyed the session with the cricketers and found them quite intelligent.

“I think they are smart and have a clear mind. Now it’s up to them how they shape their future,” the former India captain said.


The Sourav Mantra

Life of a cricketer is like a boxer in the ring... You will get hit by your rival. Take it on the chin and fight back... Practice and hardwork are the key to success... Forget your family, friends and girlfriends. They can wait. You should only focus on cricket. There will be days when you will not feel like getting out of the bed at 5.30 in the morning. You will have to kick yourself and come to ground. Look, when I was out of the Indian team I didn’t lose heart. I fought back. Yes I did feel frustrated but didn’t show my anger. I let my performance do the talking.

This is a very crucial period of your career. This is the time you have to take a call on your future. Whether you will take cricket as a career or join some other profession… Studies and cricket are both important… In other professions you mature at the age of 30 but an average cricketer’s professional life is from 19 to 33. So this is the time to decide which way you should go.

If somebody tells you to play like Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid, do not listen to him. They never followed anyone. They did what they felt was right. So do what you feel is good for you. Be what we are… Achievers never try to be to be like someone and they always try to be someone.

When I was of your age I used to stand in front of the mirror and say ‘I am the best’... This is not arrogance… It’s just another way of motivating yourself. But learn to respect people. If you do not respect others how can you expect the same from them?

Take a leaf out of the Aussie book. They are always competitive. Take Steve Waugh for example. Most of the time he used to come to crease when the chips are down. And this man used to bail the team out. They have the hunger for success. Take the Oval Test. They had already lost the Ashes but Michael Clarke still did that bold declaration at the Oval. This is because Australians believe in positive thinking. That’s why they have been so successful in the last decade.

Sachin Tendulkar once told me his target was to score a 100 in every Test series... But if you see his career he has got 51 hundreds and 67 fifties in those 327 innings he has played in his 198-Test match career. That means by his own lofty standards he failed in 109 innings. What I am trying to say is you cannot succeed in every match you play. There will be failures and you have learn from them. These failures will build the road for your success. Cricket is a game of patience. Be patient and work hard. If you are honest with yourself, nobody can stop you from making it big.

Courtesy : The Telegraph

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Pics : Sourav Ganguly Gives pep-talk to the Bengal's U-19 team

Be it success or failure, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has seen it all, and the Bengal's favourite son shared his experience while giving a pep-talk to the state's U-19 team on Friday. Read : Wonderful Motivational Talk By Sourav Ganguly for the Bengal U19 Team 

Exclusive Pics Here:

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Sourav Ganguly to Give a Motivational Talk to the Bengal U19 Cricketing Team

CAB yesterday decided to elect Sourav Ganguly as the motivator for the betterment of Junior Cricket. Sourav has been requested to take a class for Bengal U19 team. It is called as the 'motivational class'. Last year the performance of the junior team was not at all up-to-the-mark. It was understood that the problem was more mentally and not because of any cricketing reason. CAB thinks that junior players must improve their mental strength. Next friday, two classes are arranged for them. Sourav will take one while the other one will be taken by Avik Chaoudhury, who was a budding allrounder for bengal until 2009, however a serious car accident made him paralytic forever, hence he called it a day. Both of them will travel to kharagpur (150 kms from Kolkata) where a residential camp for the junior team has been organised, and there they will give lectures. CAB cashier Biswarup Dey said, "We have talked to Sourav and he has agreed to our proposal".

Courtesy: ABP
Translate By: Shrayan Sen
Edited By : Arun Raghavan

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An INTERVIEW with Sourav Ganguly from the Sets of Dadagiri 4

Sourav Ganguly Exclusive INTERVIEW to E-Samay from the Sets of Dadagiri

The shooting of Dadagiri is currently going on in Kolkata. Shooting starts sharply at 10 am. Sourav Ganguly reaches there very early. The Lunch Break is at 1 pm. The Lunch break is just for 30 mins. Dada manages to sign the autographs in the course of 30 mins. While in his make-up room for lunch, he gives an Interview to Bhashwati Ghosh. Excerpts here.

Overnight rain in city. Sourav reached the studio dodging the waterlogged areas. Cup of tea in his hand. Tea leaves and Milk comes from his home.Maharaj returns to the floor after a break.

"When I first started shooting for this show way back in 2009, I was nervous, and tensed thinking how am i going to complete 64 episodes, but now I am used-to it. No question of comeback, as I was never asked to leave. I enjoyed the show" says Dada. 

How was it When you were asked to leave the cricket field? 

For me that was a reality check. After winning all the accolades in captaining the team for 5 yrs, if  you get dropped out, I call that also a reality check. If you are confident of your own game then there is no difficulty in making a comeback. When I was going through a bad-patch, i knew  i will overcome this and score Tons once again.

Contestants come to the show to show some Dadagiri, but on reaching the shooting floor, it is realised that only one person is doing it. This is a calm Dadagiri. Director Shubhankar Chatterjee says, "Yes this is a peaceful and a calm Dadagiri. Dadagiri set is like a cricket field (lord's) and its very much liked by Sourav too." Why? Is it beacuse of the bare chested show of Sourav at lord's that makes him nostalgic about this place? One contestant says, "Bengali's will remember this scene forever".

Are you watching the episodes, on returning home ?

 Yes, but not all the episodes.

And when you didnt host Dadagiri? 

Occassionally i used to watch. I like Mithunda. He is a legend. I took  leave for one year and now i am back.

How tough is the fight in Dadagiri? Is there any room for sympathy, when you are on the play?

Off course we should play to win. we are all playing on the field, just to win. why should one show sympathy?. Though i didn't feel the same in dadagiri. This show is for different people from the society, to express themselves.

Will a celebrity like Sourav Ganguly ignore media, in order to make his personal career?

Not at all, i dont ignore media. why should media be ignored. It just creates a space for your own performance.

Dada has reduced almost 8-10 kgs in the past few months. Sourav says, "Yes, i'm jogging otherwise i would have exceeded the frame of the camera. Throughout my cricketing career, i used to be thin and fit. so I Will not look good if I suddenly become fat.  Staying fit makes me feel good, irrespective of whatever i do".

Biriyani is his favourite, but not for a single day, has biriyani arrived at the sets for his lunch. Sourav says, "i'm maintaining a diet".

Songs of Lootera and Ashiqui 2 being played during the break. Director
shubhankar says, "Songs, are played  many a times so that we can keep up the energy level, everybody loves songs. 'sawar loo' from lootera is Dada's favourite"

Though Sourav feels tired sometimes, he says, "I enjoy while on sets, but its too tiring when on roads. (total of 4 hrs road journey from behala to shooting floor and back)

Does father Sourav take questions of googly round for his daughter ?

Yes,Sana asks for it.

Do you care about TRPs ?

People come here to enjoy.I feel satisfied if they return home happily

Will you ever call Shahrukh to your show ?

Definitely. if he wants, i will definitely call. Boman Irani will come soon.

Sourav is more awesome as an anchor this season, director says "Dada's sense of humour has reached New heights this season, may be the
commentary stints helped him."

Formula of Continuing 'Dadagiri' in real life ?

Give your best in whatever you do.

Courtesy: E-Samay
Translated By: Shrayan Sen
Edited By: Arun Raghavan

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