Sourav must skip next ODI and slog at the nets

Public disappointment over Sourav Ganguly’s poor form is changing tune rapidly — from a drone into a dirge. Saturday’s batting failure at Jamshedpur juxtaposed with the team’s debacle has made his captaincy even more tenuous. He is now holding on to the job with a tattered leash. Is there a way out for the beleaguered skipper?
Runs matter most in this situation, of course, but maybe some respite from the pressures of a match might help too. Since he cannot put a foot right now in the middle, Ganguly could consider skipping the next One-day international and putting both his feet to test in the nets instead. The fifth game is five days away, and that much time at hard practice and introspection could be invaluable.
True, he could be accused of pusillanimity, of running away from battle as it were. On the other hand, this can also be seen as a strong leadership gambit. It may well be that his substitute will succeed, but that still benefits the team. If he wants to win the One-day rubber and emerge from this series against Pakistan on the plus side, Ganguly must put every player to optimum use. That objective should be uppermost in his mind.
A breather, however brief, could be of help. Ganguly will have some time away from the hurly-burly of a match to be able to see things in a different perspective. This could set his mind at ease. A distraught mind, as every cricketer knows, can play havoc with footwork, timing, judgement et al.
A captain forsaking his place in the team is extremely rare but not unprecedented. For instance hapless England skipper Mike Denness skipped the fourth Test against Australia in 1974-75 after a string of low scores in the first three Tests that his side lost, then returned to score a half century in the fifth (which England lost again) followed by a brilliant 188 in the sixth, which his side won against all odds.
Of course if Ganguly skips one game, he has only two One-day matches remaining to prove his batting form. That is cutting it very, very fine. However, if he does not make runs in any of the matches, it could well be kaput.
A less radical but no less difficult option for Ganguly would be to remain in the playing eleven, but think about his game differently. The effort should not be linked to technique, form or luck, but deep desire instead. Former tennis champ Chris Evert says, ‘‘Desire is the key. I don’t feel it consistently, but when I have it, I can’t be beaten.�
Ganguly has to rekindle an old fire.