One of the most revered characters in the world of cricket is Sourav Ganguly. The former India captain took the nation to new heights, especially away from home. However, his departure from cricket was rather unceremonious.

After the fall out with Greg Chappell and his subsequent drop in form, Ganguly had to strive hard to make a comeback to the international arena. And he did just that, not only making a return to international cricket, but also played better than ever.

However, when he was dropped from the Rest of India squad for the Irani trophy final, Ganguly was “angered.” In his autobiography ‘A Century is Not Enough,’ ‘Dada’ revealed that being dropped from the Rest of India squad was the moment he decided to hang up his boots.

"...I had been left out of the Rest of India squad, which is a clear indicator of how the selectors feel about you. Me dropped? The Asian batsman and player of the year left out from a Rest of India team, I asked myself."

"I was angry. Disillusioned," Ganguly writes.

The former left-handed batsman then called up then India captain, Anil Kumble, to ask about the issue, to which the former leg-spinner had no answer to as he wasn’t consulted before the decision that was taken by then chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar.

After being dropped from the national squad, Ganguly worked incredibly hard to make a comeback, playing in a relatively obscure domestic tournament to begin his journey.

"Go and play domestic cricket and convey a strong message to the selectors. Around that time I could only think of one cricket tournament that was coming up, the JP Atrya Memorial Trophy in Chandigarh...

“I called M.P. Pandove, the lifeblood of the Punjab Cricket Association, to tell him I desperately needed a team to play. He was of immense help and quietly obliged me even though my request had come in at the last minute."

"It was the seven toughest days of my cricketing career," Ganguly recalls.

The decision to retire came after he was selected to represent the Board President’s team. He knew that he was on trial again, even though he had already been selected for the two Tests against Australia.  

"I wouldn’t let anyone else decide my future any more. I wouldn’t go through the ordeal again. I had had enough! Yes, I was angry. After reaching Bengaluru I informed Kumble that my mind was made up and I would announce shortly," writes Ganguly.

In further revelations, he wrote that he had declined MS Dhoni’s offer to captain the team on the last day of the second Test. However, when Dhoni asked him for the second time, he couldn’t refuse.

Indeed, for a short period of time, Ganguly was seen handling the field changes, but he only did it for a few overs as nerves got the better of him and he then decided to ask Dhoni to take back the leadership.

“As the match came to a close, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a surprise gesture asked me to lead. I had rejected his offer earlier in the day, but could not refuse a second time.

“Ironically, my captaincy career had begun exactly eight years ago on this very day. I handled the bowling changes and field placements while the last Australian wicket batted.

“But I must admit, at that stage, I found it difficult to focus. So after three overs I handed it back to Dhoni saying, it is your job, MS. We both smiled.”