Ganguly's Leadership Lesson from Sehwag's NatWest Heroics

On July 13, 2002, Sourav Ganguly's young Indian team etched their names in cricket history by chasing down a daunting target of 326 against England in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and the leadership of Ganguly, who learned a valuable lesson about man management from his opening partner, Virender Sehwag.

As India chased the mammoth total, Sehwag and Ganguly put on a blistering opening stand of 106 in just 14.3 overs. Sehwag smashed a 49-ball 45, while Ganguly contributed a 43-ball 60. However, Ganguly was furious at lunch when England reached 325, a daunting target in those days.

As they walked down the long room at Lord's, Ganguly confronted Sehwag, who was whistling behind him. Ganguly berated Sehwag for taking the chase lightly, but Sehwag calmly replied, "Skip, we're going to win this."

Ganguly was skeptical, but Sehwag's confidence proved infectious. After a solid start, Ganguly advised Sehwag to play conservatively against the weaker bowler, Ronnie Irani. However, Sehwag had other plans. He smashed five boundaries in the next six balls, turning the game on its head.

Ganguly was furious, but he realized that Sehwag's aggressive approach was the key to victory. He held back his criticism and allowed Sehwag to play his natural game. Sehwag went on to play a blinder, and India eventually won the match by two wickets with three balls to spare.

After the game, Ganguly reflected on the lesson he had learned from Sehwag. He realized that as a leader, it was important to understand that different individuals have different ways of winning. Sehwag's unconventional approach had turned the game around, and Ganguly had to adjust his leadership style to accommodate his players' strengths.

This experience taught Ganguly the importance of man management and the need to empower his players to make their own decisions. It also helped him become a more successful captain, leading India to numerous victories in the years to come.

Tags: #Cricket, #NatWestTrophy, #SouravGanguly, #VirenderSehwag, #Leadership