SAURAV CHANDIDAS
GANGULY ... sacked.

had been under severe pressure due to poor batting form and fitness.

He (Ganguly) was eventually replaced by “The Great Wall”, Rahul Sharad Dravid.

Chief selector Kiran More (a former wicket-keeper) made it absolutely clear that India must invest in youth, a policy based on recent One Day performances, including India’s 4-1 triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan in Pakistan, recently.

“We are looking to the future,” he said.

“The Test team also is going to be more or less like the One Day team.”

The five-man panel introduced familiar and new names in the squad: Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Vikram Rajvir Singh, S. Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh and Under-19 sensation Piyush Chawla -- some have already made the Test team.

The selectors also have the stamp of approval from coach Chappell.

The former Australian captain and master batsman has backed the young bloods since taking over in September and has insisted on team- work.

“Chappell wants this and a new captain too,” said More.

The choice of 17-year-old leg-spin sensation Piyush Chawla exemplified the thinking of the selectors -- he (Piyush) is now the sole understudy to the great Anil Kumble (500 Test wickets), who at 35 is in his 15th year in International cricket.

Chawla made headlines last year (2005) when he removed Tendulkar (113), Yuvraj Singh (0) and Dhoni (0) in an unusual hattrick in a domestic One Day tournament.

He was the key to Uttar Pradesh, claiming their maiden Ranji Trophy title recently and bowled splendidly throughout the 2006 Under-19 World Cup tournament in Sri Lanka, which Pakistan won by defeating India in the finals.

“There is no rook in the inn for sentiment and for Ganguly,” said More.

“It is a tough call; every cricketer goes through this,” he opined.

“I have also gone through this. Whether you play one Test match or 100 Test matches, it does not matter.

“You must give 100 per cent for India.

“We discuss all 15 players, not just one player.

“We are picking the India team, not a school team.”

India’s formidable middle-order (by far the best in the world) led by the maestro Sachin Tendulkar, and to which came a blizzard king opener in 2001, had remained untouched for a decade.

But the removal now of Ganguly, seen as the weakest link, has triggered wide-reaching changes, and with the ever-so emerging sensation Yuvraj Singh.

This means to spell the end of the line for India’s finest and most prolific left-hander to date.

Ganguly’s omission is widely viewed as the omega of a brilliant international cricket career that began when the languid and graceful left-hander notched back-to-back 100s in England in 1996.

Ganguly’s reign as India’s most successful captain in 74 years, with 21 Test and 76 One Day victories, came to an end in 2005 under a grey cloud and a public spat with Chappell.

Often, he (Ganguly, 33) was perceived to be bold, brash, emotional, outspoken, daring and expressive; he gave no quarter and asked for none in return.

He was declared worldwide, moreso in England and Australia by those hybrids, as one Indian/individual who would not stand any sh*t from anyone, be they Black or White.

In short, Saurav Ganguly was not like those weak former Indian captains who were pushed around by the White-ruled conspirators.

Yet, to this cricket scribe, he was/is and remains greatly admired.

To me, Ganguly was like no other Indian cricket captain.

It is not just his personality that was different; he stood up for what he considered fair and right and just, regardless of who said what and he won Tests for Indian on foreign soil.

It is sad, but if he no longer commands or is a component of the Indian team -- the “Prince of Kolkata”, as he is known by international data, still bears ample testimony of his place as India’s finest left-hander.

After all, he was the fastest to 10,000 One Day International runs and his tally of 100s is still second on the all-time greatest century-makers list.

Contrary to what that idiot at Wisden Cricketer wrote, Ganguly will be missed!