Mithali Raj's exclusion from the starting line-up that took the field on Friday in the semi-final of the World T20 caused a great deal of tumult in the circles of Indian cricket and the latest in the list of reactionaries is former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
As Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and announced that she is going in with an unchanged line-up against England, despite Raj's return to full fitness, there was a lot speculation and a lot more of criticism targeted at the Indian camp.
This decision would snowball into a massive controversy as India's batting collapsed in the absence of their most experienced combatant, handing England a leisurely stroll into the final (which they eventually lost).
"The best in the world are at times shown the door," said Ganguly saying he was not surprised to see the treatment meted out to Raj as he had seen the entire gamut of it, during his playing days.
"No! I have also sat out in the dugout after captaining India. When I saw Mithali Raj being dropped, I said 'Welcome to the group'."
Any person who has followed Indian cricket would very clearly be aware that if there is anyone, perhaps even in world cricket, who would completely understand Raj's emotions at this moment, it is Ganguly.
Hailed as 'Dada' by his admirers, Ganguly knows every last centimetre of pain at being undeservingly and unceremoniously dropped while still a captain.
"Captains are asked to sit, so just do it. I have done it in Faisalabad. I didn't play an ODI game for 15 months when I was probably the best performer in one-day cricket... It happens in life. The best in the world are at times shown the door," Ganguly said, recalling the 2006 second Test against Pakistan.
Ganguly further advised Raj to not lose hope and keep going because he believes that she will get another opportunity.
"You should always remember you're best because you did something and there's an opportunity again. So, I am not too disappointed seeing Mithali being asked to sit out. I have not been disappointed to see the reactions on the ground," the 46-year-old said.
But one thing that did indeed disappoint Ganguly was India's exit from a tournament that had their name written on it.
"But I am disappointed because India lost the semifinals because I thought they had the team to go the distance. It happens as they say there's no guarantee in life. Do the best."
