Kohli & Co. will re-enact Ganguly's shirtless moment
Take a stroll down memory lane and one of the finest memories related to the Indian team from the early twenty-ohs would be the then India captain standing bare-chested at the balcony of Lord’s and waving his jersey over his head after a crucial victory against England in the Natwest series final in 2002.
Sourav Ganguly, the man who created that unforgettable memory, has once again reminisced it while unveiling the book ‘Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians’ by historian Boria Majumder. The book digs into every Indian cricketing occurrence since their maiden Test in 1932.
The CAB [Cricket Association of Bengal] president also said that the men led by Virat Kohli are totally capable of winning the World Cup next year in England and Wales. He also said that Kohli will repeat what he did in 2002 and walk on the Oxford Street shirtless, along with Hardik Pandya.
“I can guarantee you now, if he wins the World Cup final at Lord's in 2019. We better got our cameras ready, as he's got the six packs, I would not be surprised if he's on the Oxford Street with the Trophy and his shirt off. And I can tell you who will be following him – Hardik Pandya,” said Ganguly.
“120 per cent,” a witty Kohli replied. “I don't think it will only be me because there will be a lot of people with six packs in the team. We will all be roaming shirtless. Hardik Pandya, there's Bumrah as well... We have got a few candidates.”
The India skipper went on to recollect the memories of that series final. He shared his take on that incident and said that one cannot behave like a robot and restrain himself from behaving naturally for the sake of people’s opinions.
“The game started off brilliantly and Dada (Sourav) and Viru (Virender Sehwag) came out all guns blazing. I thought this is our game because those totals back in the days were very difficult to get, especially against England in England in a Final. I slept off when we were 150 for 5 because I could not take the sadness,” he said adding he felt it was a dream when India pulled off a stunning victory,” said Kohli.
“When I saw that moment happen... I think it is very difficult for people to understand but those things are so organic, so pure that you just go without worrying about judgment or what are people are going to say about you.
“It was in the Lord's balcony but it could have been anywhere in the world. That was just the pure happiness coming through after you have achieved something against the odds.
“This is the way I want to express myself and I never felt there is anything wrong with that because that was pure human emotion coming through.
“You cannot be a robot operating for the sake of what people are going to write or say about you. You have to honest towards the game and you have to be yourself,” he added.
Sourav Ganguly also talked about the team-culture back when he was captaining India. The 45-year-old is optimistic about India’s chances of winning the World Cup in 2019 under Kohli’s stewardship.
“We were always a good team at home, the pitches spun. We had the best spinners and at times we never needed to captain. Every time I got tired, I would stand at point and let Kumble and Harbhajan do the job.
“It needed of change of culture and mindset. We for the first time had an overseas trainer, coach and a physio. Before that we used to have manager and coaches for every tour.
“The mindset changed, and understood that if we have to be become a better team we have to go and win away from home,” Ganguly said about India's transformation under him.
“Yes of course, they can do it. They played the Champions Trophy final last year. Let's not get too far ahead. Wish them all the best. They have got some wonderful talent. Hopefully they will be there. We want them to win, and whichever way it's celebrated it'll be up to them,” Sourav Ganguly opined.
