Javagal Srinath reveals he would have prohibited Sourav Ganguly during the 2001 Eden Test toss involving Steve Waugh.

CHENNAI: Javagal Srinath, the former Indian fast bowler, recently reflected on a pivotal moment in cricket history involving Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh during the 2001 Test match at Eden Gardens. Srinath humorously suggested that had he been the match referee at that time, he would have imposed a suspension on Ganguly for keeping Waugh waiting at the toss. This incident, which has become legendary, was seen as a psychological tactic that unsettled the Australian team during a series that India ultimately won 2-1. Ganguly later explained that the delay was due to his inability to locate his blazer.

During an event in Chennai, Srinath acknowledged Ganguly's significant contributions to Indian cricket, particularly his role in mentoring emerging talents like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag. He noted that the landscape of Indian cricket underwent a substantial shift following the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s. Srinath emphasized that players developed a strong determination to restore the integrity of the sport. “There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove to the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean,” he stated.

Additionally, Srinath recounted a moment from his career when he recommended a young Zaheer Khan to selector Chandu Borde after witnessing the left-arm pacer’s impressive performance against Air India while playing for the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly inquired about Srinath's future if Zaheer were selected, Srinath confidently replied, “If he’s good, he replaces me.” This anecdote highlights Srinath's commitment to the sport and his willingness to embrace new talent in Indian cricket.