By Gokul
September 30 2005

Genuinely talented cricketers at the highest level, India’s most respected captains have a number of traits in common, not necessarily in this order. Affluent environment

Royalty and affluent environment is still held in awe in many parts of the country. Respect is usually a byproduct of royal birth.

Exercised Early Authority

Commanding an army of servants, thus enjoying an early base of exercising authority without guilt or pressure. And at complete ease while using it.

Attitude

An early habit of getting what they wanted. Raised hell if they didn’t. Fought/manipulated people, events, and emotions until they got it. Innocently at first and shrewdly as they got older.

Upbringing

Having the best of everything. Raised to believe that they were better than the others not of royal or affluent birth. Arrogance and attitude is thus fostered in the early stages. So is poise, panache, swagger, charisma and charm.

Communication

Social interaction with other affluent and powerful personalities from a young age facilitated superior, even bold skills of speech without being overawed.

Freedom

To fearlessly call a spade a spade and to cultivate a dry wit without being ostracized.

Leadership

The sum total of the above. The combination of which still works remarkably in an India that is still ruled by feudal lords and scions of royal dynasties.

There may be other qualities that these men have that I may have missed out in my ignorance. Nevertheless, it may be reasoned that such men were born as leaders of men and supreme tacticians. These are the men:

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi
Ajaysinhji Jadeja
Sourav Ganguly

The rest may have been better cricketers than these three, but were merely the best of loyal soldiers, ministers, chiefs and lieutenants. No more. No less.