Sanjay das, not just a name under
whom Sourav Ganguly played under - 19 Bengal, he is much more than that.
Sanjay and Sourav are truly hands in glove as friend. Sanjay Das is such a
person to whom Sourav can pour his heart and emotion out.
From Sourav’s cricket academy to
Sourav’s food joint –perhaps Sanjay Das manage the entire show on
behalf of Sourav.
As a person nice, straight forward
–Sanjay Das opens up to welovesourav.com just before Sourav’s glorious
100th test.
Saptarshi: Sanjay da, you have seen Maharaj da closely for years. Today he has
reached that great feat- playing 100th test at Melbourne, MCG. How do you
feel about the entire episode?
Sanjay Das: I am truly very happy today. You are saying on 100th Test in Melbourne. I should say that playing for 11-12 years in
international level itself is a great achievement. It is very difficult to
maintain form, fitness without any big injury. Sourav has achieved that.
That shows the toughness and stamina of Sourav as a cricketer.
Saptarshi: Sourav's 11
years International cricket career is like an epic with so much shades of
colour, roller coaster ride. Especially after such a fairy tale comeback,
he is not just 'Prince of Kolkata’, rather prince of modern day cricket
enigma. How do you visualize it? Kindly elaborate your thought.
Sanjay Das: During
Sourav’s comeback trail, I was with him 70% of the time. I have seen him
every day very closely. One thing I can say that in entire episode he
remained quite determined. He used to tell me –I will come back. The
difference between a normal sports persona and a megastar is the letter
can handle the pressure factor in much better fashion. And Sourav can
handle pressure very well. He has proved that repeatedly both as a player
and captain.
Saptarshi: Considering all
the circumstances, Sourav is not just a sports icon now, but a social icon
as well with a strong message for every human being. Do you agree with
this statement?
Sanjay Das: I partly agree
with that, but yes definitely it is true to the community to which Sourav
belongs to. South is bit different where Amitabh is also not a great icon,
so Sourav perhaps is yet to get that much of social importance there but
definitely for emotional Bengal Sourav has that image.
Saptarshi: Despite
Sehwag's triple ton at Multan, Sachin's 241 not out at Sydney or Laxman's
278 at Eden, Sourav Ganguly's 239 is a new symbol in Indian cricket. Your
comment?
Sanjay Das: Saptarshi, you
or cricket critic, media may think like that. But for Sourav himself, two
innings he played in test cricket are of utmost importance. One is his not
out half century in SA, last December in his first match after test
comeback and the other one is 144 not out at Brisbane against Aussies
which actually set the tone of entire series.
Saptarshi: what's your
heartfelt wish for Maharaj for this 100th Test?
Sanjay Das: I
believe people will remember Sourav for a long long time whatever he has
achieved so far. For the sake of statistics and to reach the ivy league of
legends he should score 5 more test centuries to reach a figure of 20
tests century and 3 more ODI century to make a figure of 25 ODI century
and if everything goes well for him in 2008 then history might be rewritten. | 
