Sourav reaches Kolkata to hero's welcome

It was not a conqueror's homecoming, but former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was Friday accorded a surprisingly warm welcome at the airport here with fans loudly cheering him.

The scene at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport Friday morning was in sharp contrast to the homecoming of the other members of Team India who returned empty handed from the World Cup. Most team members, who crashed out in the first stage and lost to minnows Bangladesh, reached their hometown in scattered groupings, trying to melt into the darkness.

However, Sourav's return was public and greeted with cheers.

After spending a night at London in his maternal uncle's house during his return from the Caribbean islands, he reached here at 0500 hours Friday morning.

Dressed in a leather jacket and navy blue shirt, Sourav looked a shade tired as he hopped into his car and sped towards his residence in Behala in south Kolkata.

A large crowd had gathered at the airport to welcome their 'Dada' (elder brother) as he emerged out of the terminal amid heavy security arrangements at the airport. There were adequate security arrangements made at his residence, too.

Upon reaching home, Sourav obliged photographers, but made it clear that he would not utter anything on the game or the team's dismal performance.

Sourav's was a fair performance at the World Cup, with an above-50 average and wicket, though India lost miserably to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, failing to qualify even for the Super Eight stage.

Though he failed to perform in the match against Sri Lanka, other team members cut an even poorer figure with their miserable performances in the tournament.

Sourav had made an impressive comeback to the Indian squad after he was thrown out of the team, occupying a special place in the hearts of West Bengal's cricket lovers.

(IANS)

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