Of all the certainties in the world, this one is a classic - you can't take cricket out of an Indian. Like the blood in our veins, cricket runs through every soul in this diverse country. Cricket brings us together.
The frenzy is such that it has equated into a religion of its own. It has no boundaries and finds acceptance in every houseland. Those representing the country on the cricket pitch, are revered as gods. One player whose fandom is of pure madness is former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. One of India's greatest captains, Ganguly has admirers across the world. Leadership, aggression, batting, and temperament, was a hallmark of his career. The Kolkata's son has an unmatched charisma and reverence in his home state, although he finds devotees across the length and breadth of the country.
During his career on the field, he was a serious crowd-puller and an enigma that made the game even more interesting. But there were a fair share of controversies to the great career - none more so popular than the infighting in 2005, between Sourav Ganguly, who was the captain and then coach, Greg Chappell. It was an event full of drama, gossip. There was a public spat, hashed out on TV channels.
It all happened after Greg Chappell asked Ganguly to relinquish captaincy to focus on his batting, after the latter had struggled to find form. The Indian was not happy and refused to do so. The fight soon became public and culminated into one of the biggest sagas in Indian cricket. The result was Ganguly being dropped from the squad against Sri Lanka and also being ignored for the home series against South Africa. Incidentally, this was the series where it all got a bit embarrassing for team India.
Having not been picked in the squad for the South Africa series, Ganguly-less India played the fourth ODI of the 5-match series in Kolkata. It had an unusual feel to it, with the prodigal son of the soil absent from the team, India were missing the charm offensive of its aggressive 'Dada' as Ganguly was popularly known. You did still expect the crowd to create a great atmosphere and support the home team. After all, wherever Indian team plays they get a raucous boost from the stands. But that day - 25 November, 2005 -? in Eden Gardens, it was South Africa who got the vociferous crowd support that we associate with the men in blue.
The Indian team was booed by the passionate Ganguly fans in Kolkata and there is a famous photograph of Chappell showing the finger to some supporters in retaliation for the Anti- Chappell posters that were put up there. The Indian side was booed, and every run scored by South African batsmen got loud cheers. The home team was playing in a hostile environment. Batting first, India folded out for a measly 188 and failed to play the allotted 50 overs. A chorus of boos rang out whenever India hit a boundary, but there was little of that India offered on that day. In reply, South Africa made light work of the total as they chased it down in just 36 overs without losing a wicket. It was maybe the only time that Indian cricket fans went home happy, not because their team won, but because their team lost.
It tells you all about what Ganguly means to Kolkata - a larger than life character - treasured, idolised, and treated as a cultural icon. That Ganguly wasn't part of the squad, it took the sheen out of the contest. And him not being there meant the city of joy turned into a heaven of despair and embarrassment for the Indian team. The cult status that Sourav Ganguly enjoys was on full display at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Although, he made a return to the Test side later that year, fans had made their feelings known - no Ganguly meant no party.