'Ganguly's decision will pressurise seniors': Cricketnext

Kolkata: Surprised at Sourav Ganguly's decision to retire after the Test series against Australia, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin feels that the pressure will be on the other senior players now.

"Pressure has always been on the seniors with media pitting them against youngsters after one bad series (Sri Lanka). Now it will be more since Sourav has made the beginning (to throw in the towel). It will affect the mindset of other seniors (Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman)," Azharuddin told PTI from Mumbai.

"It (the announcement) will also have a negative impact on the home series (against Australia)," he added.

Having seen Ganguly play his first one-day international and the famous back-to-back centuries in Test debut against England, Azharuddin said, "I am really surprised to hear this. He was the top performer against Pakistan some time ago. I really feel he had a few years of cricket left in him. But perhaps it's the player who knows himself best."

Himself ended his career with 99 Tests, Azharuddin added that perhaps it's the media speculation and so much of writing which did Ganguly in.

"These days it's very different. You miss a catch and there will be reams written about you. It's good but after a point it makes you down morally. It could be one of the reasons.

"But I know Ganguly as one of the most resolute players. His elegance as a batsman is of high class. He was used to be called the God on off-side. I am sure everybody will miss the Bengal Tiger. His contribution had been immense to international cricket."

Recalling the best knocks of Ganguly, Azharuddin picked out the Lord's debut in the summer of 1996.

"He had a bad outing in the ODIs and I was the captain when we lost to the West Indies in 1992. But he came back strong and the way he batted at Lord's during his 131 knock, never did we ever think that it was his first Test. Such was his elegance.

"He has some great ODI knocks as well. I recollect the Taunton ODI against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup where he made 183 with Rahul Dravid notching up 145. I really remember that great ODI. He has some 11,000-plus ODI runs to his credit. He was a batsman of pure class," added Azharuddin.

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