When former President Pranab Mukherjee backed Sourav Ganguly to play

Pranab Mukherjee, elder statesman and one of the country's most respected politicians, has died at 84. The former President of India, who tested positive for coronavirus, had been in a coma after a brain surgery earlier this month. Pranab Mukherjee will be remembered as man of wisdom often lending his opinions in matters beyond politics. Mukherjee was an active supporter of sports and opined sports could show bright future for the country. He once said, "Sports and games are important for every community and society. They promote national integration and inculcate, national pride, foster friendship, amity and a spirit of sportsmanship."

With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India !

I thank all of You 🙏

— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 31, 2020

In one particular incident, Pranab Mukherjee had backed cricketer Sourav Ganguly, when the cricketer was going through a rough patch in his career. After the 2003 ICC World Cup, Sourav Ganguly's form quietly started to dip. During March 2005, India drew a test series at home against Pakistan. Inzamam-ul-Haq's sidetriumphs in the deciderat Bangalore, virtually signalled the end of the successful relationship between Ganguly and the then coach John Wright. Ganguly's batting hit an all-time low, with every bowler giving him a torrid time; even Shahid Afridi's inconspicuous leg-spin found him wanting. After the fourth

BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly (Source: HT)

ODI against Pakistan, with the 6-match ODI series tied 2-2, Ganguly was banned for six matches for a slow-over rate - he served out a four-match curtailed ban - and has to watch from the sidelines as India go down 2-4 to Pakistan.

In September, an uncharacteristically slow hundred against a depleted Zimbabwe at Bulawayo sent the critics into raptures, only for the controversial Ganguly-Greg Chappell saga to blow up in everyone's faces. Ganguly went public with his dismay at Chappell's suggestions during the match that he step down from the captaincy, and the media went wild.

The dispute resulted in the removal of Ganguly as captain and his replacement by vice-captain Rahul Dravid in November 2005, with Ganguly being dropped from the ODI team. Ganguly was also dropped from the Test team at the end of January 2006. The dispute stirred up strong emotions in India, ranging from fiery street protests in Ganguly's home town of Kolkata and his home state of West Bengal, to speeches in the Parliament of India.

It was then, Pranab Mukherjee, who was the Defence Minister of India threw his weight behind Sourav Ganguly saying the former cricket captain surely deserved a place in the Indian Test team. "I think we should not play politics in cricket or any kind of game. He is a good player, he should find his place in the Indian team," Mukherjee told reporters.

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