Former Indian pace spearhead Javagal Srinath has carved out a respected reputation as an astute and impartial match referee following his illustrious playing career. Throughout his assignments in major international tournaments, he has consistently upheld the spirit of cricket with utmost fairness, regardless of whether the players involved hailed from his own country.
Reflecting on the 2001 Eden Gardens Test
During a recent appearance at an event, Javagal Srinath was questioned about the much-talked-about incident from the legendary 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Eden Gardens, where Sourav Ganguly kept visiting captain Steve Waugh waiting for the toss. When asked how he would have handled the situation had he been officiating as the match referee back then, Srinath shared his candid perspective on the matter.
The Verdict on Sourav Ganguly
Recalling the episode during the event, Javagal Srinath stated that he would have handed down a suspension to the Indian captain. He remarked that he would have banned Sourav for a few matches for the delay. The incident where Steve Waugh was kept waiting was widely perceived at the time as a tactical mind game by Ganguly to unsettle the formidable Australian squad during that iconic series. However, Ganguly later maintained that the delay occurred simply because he could not find his blazer in time.
Praising Ganguly’s Leadership and Vision
Alongside the discussion on the toss controversy, Srinath also heaped praise on Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, particularly highlighting his exceptional ability to nurture and shape young talents like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag. Srinath pointed out that in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal, every single player in the Indian dressing room shared an unwavering resolve to restore the dignity of the team and prove to the world that Indian cricket was pristine and honest, noting that Ganguly played a monumental role in that transformation.
