Former India cricketer, Doddanrasaiah Ganesh is all set to join Janata Dal (Secular) under the leadership of former Prime Minister Haradanahalli Dodde Gowda Deve Gowda. Ganesh, nearing 34, featured in four Tests and one One-Day International for India in 1997. He’s from the batch of Karnataka cricketers like Rahul Dravid, Sunil Joshi, Vijay Bhardwaj, Sujith Somasundar, David Johnson, who joined Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad in the Indian team, following Karnataka taking the Ranji Trophy thrice in the 1990s. Ganesh is among the few Indian cricketers who have represented the country only away from home, and the many whose international careers have been buried overseas.
Starting his cricketing career as a wicketkeeper and an opening batsman, he stormed into reckoning for the coveted India cap with an 11-wicket haul in the 1996-97 Irani Trophy, following his notable performance in the Ranji Trophy that saw his state side Karnataka lifting the Cup for the second time in three years. In the four Tests that he played, Ganesh claimed five wickets at an average of 57.40 with a best match figure of 4/98 in against West Indies at Bridgetown. Incidentally, in the second innings of this match India was bowled out for 81 having been set a target 120 to win, with Ganesh remaining undefeated on 6 off 30 balls in an hour. In the lone ODI he played, he managed to claim the solitary wicket of Zimbabwean Andrew Waller.
His domestic career was more illustrious with 365 wickets from 104 matches and a highest score of 119. However, more-than-average conceding of extras and below-par fielding, to go with state mates Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble taking charge of Indian bowling with far greater success, and ably complemented by the likes of Sunil Joshi, Nikhil Chopra, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Abey Kuruvuilla, among others, meant that Ganesh was to remain waiting in the wings, before he finally hang up his boots on June 16 this year.
It remains to be seen whether Ganesh’s foray into politics finds footing in the troubled waters of Karnataka coalition, or is rendered ultimately disappointing like his cricketing career.
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