Interview: Dada, family on life after cricket

Kolkata: When Sourav Ganguly landed in Kolkata after the Test series against Australia, he was no longer an Indian player. For Bengal, which put him on a pedestal higher than any of its other sons, an era had ended.

Now, in the quiet confines of his house in Kolkata, it's time to reflect on an unique career. In his house, rests his accolades which will revive memories of grand feats.

But also in this house, new memories will be made. An absentee son has returned; a doting father is back, as is a loving husband.

It's time for life after cricket for Sourav Ganguly.

Nishant Arora: We are with a special famiy of Kolkata -- the Ganguly family. This must be the best part of your life, Sourav. You now have more time to give to your wife and kid.

Sourav Ganguly: Yes, we are normal people. To be with my parents since my dad is getting old, it's going to be great.

Nishant Arora: Dona, how did you take Sourav decision to retire? When did he tell you?

Dona Ganguly: He has played for so many years and now if he has decided, it's okay. It must be good. We knew before the press conference. When I landed, he told me he's going to tell the press. It was not something we had to tell him, he handled the whole thing.

Nishant Arora: You have seen his whole journey -- as a player and as a captain. Tell us how has that been like?

Dona Ganguly: I have seen him grow. When he first played in Lord's, I didn't think he will come this far. Slowly, he kept on doing well and there were many things he thought he won't achieve but he did. And there were many things he couldn't achieve, but it's fine because people don't get everything in life. Overall, it was a very good journey and it was nice to be with him throughout the journey.

Nishant Arora: Sourav, wives always don't believe their husbands cannot achieve things. Isn't it true?

Sourav Ganguly: I don't know, is it? But she has seen me from day one till my last day. It's been good.

Nishant Arora: Tell us, what does Sana (Ganguly's daughter) mean to you?

Sourav Ganguly: She means everything to me.For every parent, children are the most important thing. And it's time for her to study, get up and go to school on time and we'll help her.

Dona Ganguly: She was studying but bunking a lot because of her father's cricket. Like in the Nagpur Test, her school only said -- 'this is your dad's last Test. So you can go.' Earlier, she used to miss school for seven-eight days but now that will stop. She is going to concentrate only on her studies.

Nishant Arora: So Sana, is dad strict?

Sana Ganguly: He is a good dad.

Nishant Arora: How is Sourav Ganguly as a father?

Dona Ganguly: He has his times. Sometimes he says 'I have to discipline my daughter' and he becomes really strict. At times, he is so liberal that so much liberty is not supposed to be given but that was because he used to come back from tours.

Sourav Ganguly: I have always been linient. She can get away with anything. I don't even tell her mother half the things.

Nishant Arora: What responsibilities do you expect him to take now?

Dona Ganguly: Not anything particular, when you are a family you don't have to actually say it.

Sourav Ganguly: I don't do anything. My father, mother and Dona manage everything.

Dona Ganguly: When you are in the family, you take up things. Like if I am not well, he can take Sana to school. When you are not there, you don't even know what's going on.

Nishant Arora: So, Sana expects her father to drop her and pick her from school every day now?

Dona Ganguly: Not every day, but once or twice a week will be good for her.

Nishant Arora: So, Sourav, you are happily retired now?

Sourav Ganguly: Very happy.

Nishant Arora: Sourav are you going to help if you are wife now wants to do more shows now as she is a classical dancer?

Sourav Ganguly: Yes, she can and I can spend more time with Sana. Sana can then do whatever she wants and nothing will go to the mother.

Nishant Arora: I remember Sourav you once said: "Life me kuch nahi chahiye, sirf chaar cup chai aur char dost chahiye. (I don't want anything in life, just four cups of tea and four friends)" Do you still believe that?

Sourav Ganguly: Absolutely.

Nishant Arora:So what have you decided about life after cricket?

Sourav Ganguly: I haven't decided on anything. I need some time off. I need a break from the game, a break from everything. There will be loads of opportunities; we'll see how it goes. I have to get back to my family business. My father and my uncle are getting old. I have a few other ideas in Kolkata. I'm trying to build a school so I'll give time to that. I want to do it in a big way so that I can help in shaping careers of young boys and girls.

Nishant Arora: Any plans of staying connected to the game?

Sourav Ganguly: I will definitely do a little bit of work related to cricket. It could be media, it could be commentary. I want to contribute to Bengal cricket. Before me there was only Pankaj Roy who played 25 Tests for India. In a city like Kolkata where people are so crazy about the game you need a flow of players. There is enough talent and hopefully I can guide them. Coaching is not an option now, not in another five years because it involves travelling. We will wait and see.

Nishant Arora: One job that will suit you because you can spot talent like nobody else can is that of the chief selector.

Sourav Ganguly: I think the days of criticism are over for me. I have been criticised a lot as a player. I don't want to start all that again as a selector.

Nishant Arora: Are you a big movie buff?

Sourav Ganguly: I am a big movie buff. I find movies very relaxing. I'm a big Shah Rukh Khan fan. He's part of the Knight Riders now so I get to see him closely.

Nishant Arora: Any plans to join the movies?

Sourav Ganguly: No, I'm not good enough for movies. I can only watch.

Nishant Arora: What kind of music do you listen to?

Sourav Ganguly: I listen to Hindi music, but there's no favourite. But Shreya Ghosal is brilliant. Abhijeet, Babul Supriyo, Kunal Ganjawala, they are all fantastic.

Nishant Arora: Biggest weakness?

Sourav Ganguly: Food.

Nishant Arora: Biggest strength?

Sourav Ganguly: My mind.

Nishant Arora: Best bowlers you have faced?

Sourav Ganguly: Wasim and Glenn McGrath, Muralitharan as well.

Nishant Arora: Best batsman?

Sourav Ganguly: Sachin and Brian Lara are the best batsmen I played with/against.

Nishant Arora: Best decision as a capatin/player?

Sourav Ganguly: Asking Virender Sehwag to open.

Nishant Arora: Worst decision?

Sourav Ganguly: There were times when I couldn't fit Anil into the first eleven, he's never been left out of the 14, that's probably the regret as a captain.

Nishant Arora: Most cherished moment?

Sourav Ganguly: Playing Test cricket at Lord's.

Nishant Arora: Any regrets?

Sourav Ganguly: Not winning the World Cup is my biggest regret. We came so close after playing so well.

Nishant Arora: Are you comfortable with the tag of former India cricketer now?

Sourav Ganguly: Everything in life has to come to an end. I'm happy to have played 13-14 years for India and it's been great.

Nishant Arora: You must be really happy that you left a very happy and a victorious dressing room.

Sourav Ganguly: When I announced my retirement, I hoped that it would finish this way. I finished with a smiling face on everyone. I couldn't have expected more than this, beating the best team in the world 2-0 convincingly, in India, and performing so well, not just me but everyone. We finished (the series) with a lot of high. I couldn't have expected more than this.

Nishant Arora: I believe that the turning point of Indian cricket was when India beat Australia in 2001 under your captaincy.

Sourav Ganguly:Indian cricket has gone forward immensely from 2000. Our performance overseas, the consistency with which we delivered overseas, we were always a very good side at home. Beating Australia three-four times in the last seven years. We won in West Indies, England, Pakistan - it's been a fantastic journey.

Nishant Arora: It's very not to get emotional on the last day, especially with the guard of honour and Dhoni giving you captaincy, there were some great gestures.

Sourav Ganguly: I was happy when I walked out on the last day to a small guard of honour by the teammates... Before I started this series, I hoped for this end. And it has happened exactly the same way.

Nishant Arora: What kind of a farewell did you get? I have heard there was a dinner and there was absolute chaos in there?

Sourav Ganguly: It was, I cannot tell you everything that happened because I will be killed by some of them. It was fantastic. We did a lot of things that none of you have seen us do before. We had a ball, we got together and were up till late to 1 am. It was just us team mates, laughing and smiling; it's just what victory does to you.

Nishant Arora: I believe you got a T-shirt that was signed by the entire team and Sachin again failed to write correct Bengali on it.

Sourav Ganguly: It was pretty emotional, touching. I didn't even know about it. I had gone to do an interview so my wife took a T-shirt out of my bag and quietly asked all the boys to sign it. It was a nice gesture from her. It was the first time I found her so interested in the game. They are a fantastic bunch of boys. You hear a lot of things when things don't go well, but unless and until you actually are in the dressing room you don't know what it's all about. So it's been a fantastic journey.

Nishant Arora: What was your equation with Sachin Tendulkar like?

Sourav Ganguly: I have shared a lot of good times with Sachin Tendulkar, not just while playing for India. I still remember the first Under-15 camp in Indore under Mr Vasu Paranjpe, who was like a guardian to all of us. The first time I met Rahul personally was on the trip to England with Kailash Ghatani. I was a year older than him. But he was the same, as intense as he is now, quiet.

The first time I saw Anil was in Kanpur during an Under-17 tournament. He got a hundred in that game for South Zone and I had come for East Zone. We met at the dinner area. The amount of contribution he has made to Indian cricket is fantastic. Along with Sachin he is the greatest match-winner for India. VVS was younger, although he has a lot more hair than we all have. I didn't play with VVS much in school cricket. The first time I saw him was against South Zone. He has a nickname that I won't say because it may offend o lot of followers. But He's a fantastic guy.

Nishant Arora: Is this the most prductive team in terms of results ever?

Sourav Ganguly: They all have made enormous contributions to the game. The amount of runs they have, 20000 international runs for someone like Dravid. I have forgotten how many runs Sachin has made, maybe 26000 or 27000 international runs. These are unmatched. It will take a long time for someone to stand up and do that.

Nishant Arora: Rahul Dravid is out of form. Now you can be an armchair critic and say things.

Sourav Ganguly: I don't want to be an armchair critic. I know what it feels to be out of form. I'm sure Rahul Dravid will sort his game out. When you perform for 13-14 years it just doesn't go away overnight. Everyone must realise, the selectors, the board and the fans that when you play for so long you will have tough times. You will all

have bad series because you are human. Even machines can't operate in the same way everyday. He's human and I back him to do well and get runs against England.

Nishant Arora: There is another group who are your band of boys; Sehwag,Yuvraj, Harbhajan.

Sourav Ganguly: Look at Sehwag's performances as an opener. He's probably been the biggest addition to Indian batting. From a middle orderbatsman to going up and opening, and being so successful is phenomenal. He probably deserves the most kudos as a player. With Anil going, Harbhajan will be our front-line match-winner. 300 Test wickets, I back him to get as close to Anil as possible. If he gets past Anil, it'll be fantastic. I forced Sehwag to open because I felt he was too good a player to sit out. I had a simple logic, that if you're good enough then you can play the new ball. All credit to him that he has stood up and delivered.

Nishant Arora: Are you proud that you were the one who forced Sehwag to open?

Sourav Ganguly: I had a simple logic. If you are good enough, you should be able to play the new ball. All credit to him that he stood up and delivered.

Nishant Arora: Were you very disappointed when you got out on 85?

Sourav Ganguly: I was very disappointed that I got out for 85 in the first innings because I got so close. 100 in my debut, 100 in my last Test would have been special. But at least I got 85 and not five.

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