The Telegraph of Calcutta lists Ganguly's misdemeanours

The India skipper received one of the heaviest penalties ever for allowing his bowlers to consistently take too much time to bowl in one-day internationals.

But rather than inspiring street protests, as they have in the past when Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were suspended, the Indian media is accepting.

The International Cricket Council, and English match referee Chris Broad, are usually seen as a force of evil but this time they are a force for good.

"Things could not have panned out better for Ganguly and the national selectors," says the front page of Wednesday's Times of India.

Left-hander Ganguly, who made 48 runs in five Test innings against Pakistan, has just 31 so far in the one-day series.

A six-match ban at this stage of his career could well mean the end of the road Hindustan Times

After being run out for 18 on Tuesday, and then captaining his side to a last-ball defeat, he was booed by fans at the post-match presentation.

"In a way, it might not be such bad timing because Ganguly has been in the worst form of his life," says Bangalore's Deccan Herald.

"This enforced hiatus should give him the break he so desperately needs to regain his focus away from the probing eyes of the critics ... who have been crying for his head."

Read more: Ganguly's declining fortunes

Even The Statesman, published in Ganguly's home town of Calcutta, asks: "A boon in the guise of a ban?"

It continues: "Sourav Ganguly's miserable run with the bat came to be halted when he was banned for six one-day internationals."

Perhaps the Ganguly family take The Telegraph in their Calcutta home instead, in which case they will have seen a photo montage of Sourav and his recent misdemeanours.

• In 1998 he was suspended for a one-day match after disputing an lbw decision in a Test against Australia.

• He was suspended for a single one-day match against Zimbabwe in 2000 after being found ruled guilty of showing dissent against the umpires.

• He missed a one-day international in 2001 for disputing an lbw decision during a tri-series in Sri Lanka.

• Five months ago, Ganguly successfully appealed against a two-Test ban, imposed because of the team's slow over rate in a one-day match against Pakistan.

• Just a week ago he was fined 70% of his match fee for the team's slow over-rate in Vishakhapatnam.

• And on Wednesday, the Indian cricket board was again considering making an appeal against Ganguly's suspension, which it considers harsh.

Of all India's newspapers, The Hindustan Times goes furthest, saying Tuesday's defeat could be Ganguly's last for India.

It would be a cruel blow for a batsman 51 runs away from 5,000 in Tests and 33 from 10,000 in one-day internationals, not to mention India's most successful captain ever.

India have a quiet six months, with a scheduled tour of Bangladesh yet to materialise, and a tour of Zimbabwe on the cards later in the year.

By the time he is due to return the India team could have moved on from the Sourav Ganguly era.

But if the consequences are not that harsh, he may be able to rediscover his dashing form of old.