Sourav Ganguly might have had his share of highs in International cricket but it was his debut for the West Bengal Ranji team that will remain very special for him.
The former India captain rated his debut in the Ranji Trophy winning final in 1989-90 as the best moment in his glittering cricketing career.
“At 17-18 years, making a Ranji Trophy debut that too in the final... It was probably the best moment of my life,” Ganguly said in his address during a felicitation of the 25 years of the Ranji Trophy triumph.
“The whole thing of winning the Ranji Trophy was very very special,” a nostalgic Ganguly said.
Batting at No 4, Ganguly scored 22 on his debut and batted for five fours before being dismissed by Manoj Prabhakar.
Honestly, the first two balls hit the bat before I could realise and react. Then I gathered myself overcoming the nervousness. I played a few shots just after seeing the ball.
– Sourav Ganguly
Making a debut in a victorious team made all the difference for Ganguly.
For a young player to see his team emerge as the country’s best in his very first match. The mindset automatically changes and you tend to improve after getting into a winning side straightway. It was a winning team when I came and it definitely helped my game. I just hope it does not take (West Bengal) another 25 years to win another Ranji Trophy title.
It was my first opportunity to play with many renowned players whom I’d seen from the sidelines until then. The likes of Ashok Malhotra, Arun Lal, Utpal Chatterjee and my elder brother Snehasish... I used to see their practice from behind. I came to know about it on the eve of the match from our skipper Sambaran Banerjee, whom I still consider my captain. That excitement. It’s very hard to explain what happened afterwards. It was like a fairy tale.