Sourav Ganguly acknowledges Sachin Tendulkar’s cricket superiority

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly took a stroll down memory lane as he reminisced about his deep friendship with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Ganguly openly acknowledged that Tendulkar, a right-handed batting maestro, was a far superior cricketer than himself, a belief he firmly holds.

Their friendship began when they crossed paths at the MRF Pace Academy when Tendulkar was just 14 years old. Over time, their bond grew stronger, spending six to seven months together each year, fostering trust and camaraderie.

“As a cricketer, he was a far superior cricketer than me, and that is something I strongly believe in. To elevate your game, you must partner with those who are better than you, and we continue to be very close friends,” shared Ganguly during an episode of the Champions Sports-Cast podcast hosted by DreamSetGo.

Ganguly made his debut in international cricket in 1992 and concluded his illustrious career in 2008. He reminisced about his early days playing cricket in Kolkata, revealing that sports became his escape from his mother’s persistent desire for him to focus on his studies. His journey into cricket began with football, where he discovered his exceptional ball sense, likely influenced by his Kolkata roots.

The transition to cricket was initiated by his brother, and he honed his skills by participating in 7-a-side cricket matches in their backyard. These tennis ball matches nurtured his game sense and touch from a very young age.

During his captaincy, Ganguly introduced several young players to the Indian cricket team, leading India to a runner-up finish in the 2003 Men’s ODI World Cup. He emphasized that leadership, in his view, revolves around managing diverse personalities and ensuring collective effort towards a common goal.

“For me, leadership is about managing people because everyone’s different. At the end of the day, I cannot win cricket games alone. I need the 10 players next to me to drive towards that goal,” he explained.

Ganguly, who also served as the President of BCCI and CAB, expressed his admiration for cricketing icons Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Allan Border. These legends inspired him, especially after India’s 1983 World Cup victory.

Apart from cricket, Ganguly recalled meeting the legendary Argentine footballer Diego Maradona. He vividly remembered a 20-minute interview with Maradona during which the football icon juggled a ball flawlessly with his left leg, leaving a lasting impression on Ganguly. He described Maradona as “special” and “blessed by the Almighty,” highlighting the uniqueness of his talent among football greats like Messi, Ronaldo, and Pele.

-IANS