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For a region that is generally perceived as ‘backward’ in terms of cricketing talent, East Zone has produced two remarkable sportsmen in Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The duo have, to their credit, one achievement in common . Both have captained India with great success, becoming, in the process, iconic figures in their own States.
Ganguly, known as the Prince of Kolkata, and loved and respected by his supporters and well-wishers, was lonely at the top until a rustic-yet-pragmatic Dhoni joined him on that select list.
The triumph Dhoni’s India tasted at the third One-Day International in Ranchi — the Indian captain’s backyard — against the visiting England team has propelled the 30-year-old to a new status — the king of Jharkhand.
People of Jharkhand have only seen their ‘boy’ lead his country from the front elsewhere, but the way in which Dhoni marshalled his resources to achieve a historic first at ‘home’ was something they would cherish throughout their lives.
With the inauguration of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) International Stadium Complex, the State hosted its first-ever ODI, which itself was a moment of pride for the State.
Like Ganguly, Dhoni too has the onerous task of rebuilding the Indian side. He was lucky to inherit a team that had many seniors who retired gradually. Dhoni has been playing a major role in getting the newcomers to gel within the team.
Dhoni will now have to play a major role in building a new and powerful Indian team that is capable of winning matches outside the country. He is already a huge inspiration to those from small towns and districts playing the game passionately.
With his achievement first as a player and then as a leader, Dhoni has stamped his authority on the Indian team. His cool exterior and confident persona has successfully helped him turn into the best sporting ambassador of the country.
Dhoni has won India two World Cups — the Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and the ICC World Cup in 2011 when India hosted it at home. Not many Indian captains have their CVs embellished with such feats.
He has rightly emerged as the king of Jharkhand who has put both his State and its capital Ranchi on the cricketing world map.
> sabanayakan.s@thehindu.co.in
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