Increasingly, it looks like sunset for Sourav

And when they sit down, with India’s interests uppermost, to reflect and to analyse, one name will occupy their minds. Sourav Ganguly has been one of the champions of Indian cricket, that is a constant amidst the torrent of emotions he generates, and now they need to decide what tense to use with him. The present, that is attacked by recent performance? The past, that is bright but is receding? Or the future, hazy and indicative more of faith than anything else?

They need to be very careful because they evaluate a giant, an all-time great one-day batsman and a fine leader. They look at a man in his thirties, a man who has seen it all but who stares at a board that says ‘no comebacks’. That is why sport is cruel, it requires you to make decisions about a lifetime while still in the late teens and contemplate the end in the early thirties, when others are still building careers, looking ahead.

Sourav Ganguly has struggled in Zimbabwe, especially when confronted by bowling of the highest class. He looked at sea against Shane Bond, his feet refusing to submit to the needs of the shot; or, dare one say, actually submitting to the state of his mind. He was neither forward nor back, anticipating the fast short-pitched ball and struggling against one of fuller length. He needs to get runs to convince himself that he can play against bowling of that level but he cannot get those runs unless he convinces himself that he is still able. Like most things about life, batting can be a vicious circle. And to be honest, he doesn’t look like he can break through it.

Against lesser bowling, he looked capable, a great catch or a strategically placed fielder undoing him. It’s a cruel way of life but when you are down, the brilliant catch materialises, the flick which would otherwise have gone six inches higher finds the fingertips. But you pick a player not to be capable against decent bowling but to counter the quality stuff.

It is increasingly looking like a sunset for Ganguly and he will have to do something exceptional in the two tests against Zimbabwe to convince people, and especially himself, that there is another dawn. Against a lesser player the goodbye chit would be on its way already and the reason it hasn’t yet been sent is that another one-day giant hasn’t yet appeared.

Even the mighty Sehwag averages 32, Ganguly in his prime was around 42. India’s slide in the one-day game is very closely correlated to Ganguly’s decline.

Now though, after about a hundred games, two players have taken a step forward. Two of Ganguly’s Protégées, two that he handled with care and encouragement, are starting to show that they might be top order replacements.

Mohammad Kaif played two outstanding innings at number three and, coming as they did after the criticism surrounding two ordinary innings, that augurs very well for the future. He has the qualities needed to bat there and while a couple of innings can at best be indicators, not evidence, he needs a longer run there.

Yuvraj Singh cannot now bat lower than number five for like Kaif, he showed the maturity to bat down to the end of the innings. Brilliant flickers are now being replaced by a longer lasting glow. Higher in the order, his frailty against the moving ball can undermine him, at number five his ability to finish an innings strongly is a huge asset. Two little question marks have emerged. India have a right to expect, and indeed demand, more from Harbhajan Singh. As an attacking bowler, he needs to deliver more wickets. In two tournaments off-spinners like Tillekaratne Dilshan, Gavin Ewing and Virender Sehwag have taken more wickets than he has and these are names that, over a career will cumulatively take less than one-third his tally.

And, when the ball doesn’t swing, Irfan Pathan is looking lost. He searches for it, like a child might a favourite toy that is missing. But like the child he looks incomplete without it. It doesn’t help either that he is dropping in pace for he doesn’t hurry batsmen like he used to anymore. And two years into a career is too early to be using the past tense.

India don’t play another final for a while now. There are 17 one-day games before the Asia Cup in Pakistan in February. Enough time to rearrange the dishes, relook at the spices and flavours and produce a more vibrant buffet. They need to reawaken the anticipation!