Ever since Sourav Ganguly has taken charge as President of the BCCI, there is a renewed vigour with which the board is operating. Ganguly, Dada as he is lovingly called, holds a special place in Indian cricket history. His captaincy tenure continues to be one of the most chronicled ones in recent times.
Sourav Ganguly took charge as the BCCI President on 23rd of October this year. He has not wasted a passing moment to overhaul the Indian cricket space and has brought in many innovative ideas on the table for the near future. Among these ideas, the one which is shining the most is a proposal of a super-ODI series with four top cricket teams of the world– India, Australia, England and one other team. This series is the brainchild of Ganguly and is yet to be accepted by the other two countries and their cricket authorities and there are signs of optimism on that front as well.
Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts has termed BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s idea for a four-nation ‘ODI Super Series’ as “innovative“. “I think it’s an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president,” Roberts said. The cricket boards around the world are taking cognizance of Ganguly’s determined efforts at ending long standing hegemonies around the game. Roberts also added, “In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there. And now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation.”
The day-night test that was played in Kolkata with Bangladesh was a first of its kind as India became possibly the last nation to accept the sub-format under Sourav Ganguly’s direct guidance. The BCCI marketed India’s maiden pink-ball Test, illuminating prominent city landmarks in Kolkata in pink and overall creating a buzz around the match, which in turn ensured high attendance in the venue.
Apart from these, Dada has also turned his attention to the revival and amelioration of the National Cricket Academy, which, incidentally has Rahul David heading the institution. The NCA was established in 2000 to nurture top young talents, with the potential to represent India in the future. Of late, the institution which earlier used to be a supply line for the senior Indian cricket has been reduced to a rehabilitation centre for the injured players going through some kind of niggle or another. BCCI under Ganguly is mulling to transform NCA in Bengaluru into a state-of-the-art facility which will churn out first-class players sure to bring laurels to the country. With Sourav Ganguly heading the BCCI and Rahul Dravid in-charge of the NCA, Indian cricket can be said to be in the best of hands after a long time.
It is these futuristic measures of Ganguly which are earning him praise across the globe and reiterating India’s position as a leading power in the world of cricket. The best part is, this is just the beginning!
