Souravmania is here to stay

What a year it has been for Sourav Ganguly. The man, who made the greatest comeback in cricket a year ago, scored 1,000 runs in a calendar year in both formats of the game, hit the first double century of his career, scored his maiden hundred at the Eden Gardens in front of his home crowd, and now, scored a century of Test matches when he stepped into the MCG on Wednesday.

From carrying drinks (or his refusal do so) in 1992, to his shirt-waving act at the Lords balcony, from making Steve Waugh wait at the Eden Gardens for the toss during the epic 2001 series, to the entire fiasco involving Greg Chappel, Dada has always been in the midst of many controversies, more non-cricketing than cricketing.

Now with his 100th Test at Melbourne, Dada has crossed a new landmark. And, I am sure it would be more satisfying to him than any of his other centuries. Going by his current form and body language, it seems retirement is still a far way off.

The man, who changed the tag of “tigers at home, rabbits abroad” that India carried earlier, has never looked hungrier for runs. Like him or hate him, but it is difficult to ignore the man who is “after God on the side”. Souravmania is here to stay.