Hyderabad, may 11 :To be convinced that the match on Sunday between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders was actually played at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad, one has to forget soaking in the atmosphere and instead look for precise details. If one were to ignore the fact, it might appear as if the 40,000-odd capacity stadium was jam-packed with Bengalis alone.

It wasn’t as if the crowd was chanting the Knight Riders’s anthem; its loyalty was clearly with the home team. It was, however, ironical that one cricketer who, in his 13-year-old international career has polarised the opinions of our cricket-crazy nation, was busy mesmerising the crowd.

By the time Sourav Ganguly walked out after a scorching 91, a debate might have ensued even among hard-core Deccan fans. Even the long-off and long-on of the home team had no clue whether to pity their attack or simply watch Ganguly at his best.

It was a typical Ganguly who let his bat do all the talking. He was under tremendous pressure to come up with a better display and he treated the Hyderabadis to a Sunday feast. His effort included 11 boundaries and five sixes besides capturing two crucial wickets.

The crowd here gave Indian cricket’s most notorious headline-hunter a standing ovation for every stroke played. Ganguly’s innings, along with David Hussey’s unbeaten 57 from 29 balls, prolonged Hyderabad’s torture and ensured the Knight Riders a match-winning total and their second consecutive victory.

Ganguly has already been blowing hot and cold so far, taking on Shane Warne, drawing mixed reactions from his own team and in Sunday’s game, forcing the otherwise courteous Adam Gilchrist to begin an on-field dialogue. It seemed as if Ganguly had edged a catch off Chaminda Vaas and Gilchrist, who pouched it, vigorously appealed. The batsman was on 78 when the umpire turned it down and Gilchrist had no choice but to grunt.

Except for that one big chance, the rest of Ganguly’s innings bore his stamp of authority. The lofted drive over long-off and long-on, the gentle nudge through covers, his often scratchy but convincingly efficient pull and his mauling of spinners around the park were on display.

When asked if the innings was an indication that he’s still fit for the one-day team, Ganguly’s reply was as good as his innings. “I was never dropped on form. I don’t like to say this time and again, but I just don’t know the reason.”

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