Sourav ganguly keep his birthday a
low-key affair, even as a large number of fans and school children
gathered outside his Behala residence since morning to greet the
former India captain.
In fact, Ganguly
returned from Singapore early this morning after attending a business
meeting but the former cricketer obliged all his fans who came in
groups to cut the customary cake.
It was his first
birthday since his father Chandidas' demise in February this year,
and Ganguly appeared sad and emotional.
Ganguly did not
indulge in any major celebrations for his 41st birthday as a result
of his father's death in February this year.
"I'm not
celebrating this time, it's been a sad start to the year,"
Ganguly, who was very close to his father, said.
In his birthday
message, he told his fans: "Try to achieve something in whatever
you do. Go for something extraordinary otherwise life becomes
mundane."
The cricket team of
GB Memorial Institution, Sarsuna had arrived with a giant cake and
bouquet, while about 30-odd members of the Sourav Ganguly Fan Club in
Behala gifted the former cricketer with a watch made up of a
gramophone record.
"We have been
greeting Dada (Ganguly) since he was made the Indian captain. It's a
big day for us and we distribute sweets and cakes in the name of
Dada," Ratan Haldar of the club said.
Coach of G B
Memorial Institution, Shantanu Shah said: "Dada is an
inspiration for all of us. It's a big occasion to come here for these
budding cricketers." Wishes also poured in for Ganguly via the
social media with his former IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders' CEO
Venky Mysore greeting the 'birthday boy'.
"On behalf of
all KKR, here's wishing Saurav Ganguly a very happy b'day &
many happy returns."
Known as somebody
who changed the face of Indian cricket, Ganguly was one of the finest
left-handed batsman as Rahul Dravid had once said, "On the off
side, first there is god and then Sourav Ganguly".
It was under his
able leadership that India managed to shed the tag of
'tigers-at-home-and-lambs-abroad' in a career spanning more than 16
years which was full of ups and downs.
His shirt twirling
incident in the Lord's balcony after winning the 2002 NatWest Trophy
final is still etched in every fan's memory, what if it's been five
years since he last wore the India cap versus Australia in a Test
match.
Ganguly is now a
sought-after individual as a cricket pundit on camera and he's also
busy in the launch of the Sourav Ganguly International School in
Kolkata and Siliguri.
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