Over the last few years, fans have argued aggressively about the best Indian captain ever. The fight has always been between two names: MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly. However, both these players share a good rapport and have often praised each other on public platforms. Now, Ganguly, in his autobiography ‘A Century Is Not Enough’, once again showered praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni and noted how he wishes he had MSD by his side in the 2003 World Cup team.
Ganguly wrote that he always looks for players who can remain steady under pressure and have the capability to change the course of the match. “Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who came to my notice in 2004, was a natural progression of this thought. I was impressed with MS Dhoni from day one,” Ganguly wrote while adding, “I wish I’d Dhoni in my 2003 World Cup team.”
Ganguly said that he was told that when the 2003 World Cup final was played, Dhoni was still a ticket collector with Indian Railways. “Unbelievable!” added the former India skipper. The southpaw said that he is happy that his assessment proved right. Ganguly said it is amazing how he broke through the ranks to become what he is today.
Sourav Ganguly had played his last Test under MS Dhoni in 2008. The latter had asked Ganguly to lead the team as a token of respect, an offer that was initially rejected by him. “I had rejected his offer earlier in the day, but could not refuse a second time,” Ganguly writes in his book.
India defeated Australia by 172 runs in Nagpur in that match. Ganguly was asked to lead the side in the final few overs and the former Indian skipper had accepted the offer the second time.
Ganguly said that it was ironical that his captaincy career had begun exactly eight years ago on that very day. “I handled the bowling changes and field placements while the last Australian wicket batted,” he said, while admitting that he found it difficult to focus and gave the captaincy back to Dhoni after 3 overs.