Nearly 33 years ago, Sourav Ganguly made his first-class debut in a Ranji Trophy final (vs Delhi) at Eden Gardens as a 17-year-old after brother Snehasish, the current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, was forced to sit out because of injury. That was also the last time Bengal won the Ranji title.
On Thursday, the Eden will again host a Ranji final featuring Bengal. Sourav, the former India captain and immediate past president of the BCCI, spoke to The Telegraph from London late on Tuesday evening on his memories as a debutant and Bengal’s campaign this season.
Excerpts:
Q: You made your debut in the Ranji final in 1989-90 when Bengal last became champions. What are your memories of that match?
Sourav Ganguly: Great memories... nostalgic too. One of the most memorable moments of my career. In all, I played three Ranji finals.
Q: You scored 22 in your debut innings batting at No.4...
Sourav: Too early in my career and I was too young. Not much that I can remember. Can’t even recall which position I went into bat and the circumstances.
Q: How was your mental preparation? Were you tense?
Sourav: I was too young to even think of preparing myself mentally. I just went and played my game...
Q: What will be your message to the current lot who will be playing the final at Eden Gardens?
Sourav: These boys have done remarkably well in the last two-three years. They made the final in 2019-20, they missed a season because of the pandemic and then again reached the semi-final last season. They have been consistent over a period of time.
Reports in The Telegraph edition dated March 29, 1990, on Bengal’s Ranji Trophy victory over Delhi at Eden Gardens. Sourav Ganguly made his first-class debut in this game
Q: This is a fairly young side but Saurashtra are very experienced. How much does experience count in such big matches?
Sourav: I reckon Bengal too are very experienced. Anustup Majumdar, (Abhimanyu) Easwaran, Manoj Tiwary — they are all seasoned campaigners.
Q: You also have players like Akash Deep and Sudip Gharami who are young...
Sourav: But they have been very successful. That’s why we have played Ranji finals twice in three seasons. Look at Gharami... He has got nearly 800 runs this season so far.
Q: Is this a success story of the Vision 2020 programme which was started with you as CAB president?
Sourav: Yes one of the reasons... Vision 2020 was done to unearth talent... Batters, bowlers... People like Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Ishan Porel, all of them have been a part of this process. Gharami has also come out of this. Not just skills, their fitness and workload are also monitored and the results are showing.
Q: What do you need to achieve success at such a big stage like the Ranji final?
Sourav: Nothing special. Just play with a bit more determination and you will achieve success. Don’t treat it as a big match, look at it as an opportunity and make it count. It is also a testimony of how good these players are. How many cricketers get to play Ranji finals twice in three years?
Q: Is playing at home an advantage or a disadvantage?
Sourav: It’s always an advantage. You know the conditions, you get the desired support. Playing a Ranji final at home, it can’t get better than this. The last time we played here we won. Then the next four finals were away — Mumbai twice, Lucknow and Rajkot. It’s a great opportunity this time.
Q: How much does mental preparation help in achieving success...
Sourav: The game is about mental strength. I think they have done exceptionally well to reach here. Madhya Pradesh were almost invincible and they defeated the reigning champions in the semi-final. That too in their own backyard. A huge achievement.
Q: Do you agree that the future of Bengal cricket is in good hands?
Sourav: They are all young and have been around for some years now. It has to be in good hands.
Q: You always wanted to win another Ranji title for Bengal during your playing days. Does this failure remain a regret?
Sourav: I played two finals (1993-94, 2006-07) after 1989-90 but... Lost to Mumbai on both occasions. That’s the way it happens.
Q: You will miss the final this time...
Sourav: I would have loved to be present and watch it at Eden Gardens from Day I. But I expect to be there for the fourth and fifth days if the match goes on till then.
