Arjun Ranatunga :

The comment after Delhi test and sudden ouster of Ganguly from Indian test team :

His dismissal in the first innings triggered the collapse which only accentuates his contribution on the first day. A few of his cover drives, trust me, were the best I saw in the entire match --- Arjun Ranatunga .

Sourav Ganguly who was not seen in the one-dayers at all against Sri Lanka and South Africa. His exclusion and the manner of it is unbecoming on the part of Indian cricket officialdom.

wonder if he has received any phone call from selectors, captain or coach; or even seniors like Tendulkars and Sehwags.

It is one thing to believe that he does not have anything to offer, it is quite another to act as if he was just an illusion all these years.

Wish as anyone might, nobody can take away his record or the esteem in which he is held world-wide. India must learn to respect its heroes lest they look like pirates who can only destroy a legacy. I have no doubt India has moved forward. But progress is a constant journey where many variables keep coming up at odd hours and turns.

India still needs to be assured if these youngsters have the stamina and the equanimity to keep building on their impressive starts.

Success is a double-edged weapon, it could take the hunger out of the system, imprison you in the image which media and masses configure and shift focus as commerce seeks an alignment.

Seniors could play a stabilising influence and Ganguly could play a bigger role than just being held up for being a slow mover and runner between the wickets.

It annoys me when every cricketer is being strait-jacketed. I wonder if Ganguly is slower than an Inzamam between the wickets or if Sehwag is swifter in the field. Great cricketers have a way of making up for up their deficiency. If Ganguly is slow, he also has a temperament which not everyone possesses.

It would be much required when Indians travel abroad. Youngsters could be like fish out of pond and that is where you would need men like Ganguly to be in scheme of things. He could also play your fourth or fifth seamer, he would be useful in the West Indies. Man-management is also about maximising the potential of a cricketer.

 Ranatunga opined that Dravid's silence borders on complicity .

I would not like to be in Rahul Dravid's shoes if I am the captain. In the entire Sourav Ganguly episode, his silence borders on complicity. He has every reason to seek the team he wants, but he also owes it to his men to be seen standing right next to them. At best he would miss out on the trust and loyalty of his mates which allows a captain to ask for the impossible; at worst he would be very unpopular in the dressing room.

Truth to tell, Sourav was very impressive at the Kotla. His two knocks (40 and 39) were well crafted and critical to the eventual scores. His dismissal in the first innings triggered the collapse which only accentuates his contribution on the first day. A few of his cover drives, trust me, were the best I saw in the entire match.

He was seen giving his 100 per cent, he wanted his place back badly. Such hunger is to be welcomed, not scorned. It has not reflected well of the system, not of selectors or team management.