Sourav Ganguly is widely recognized for revolutionizing Indian cricket with his aggressive leadership style. Taking charge during a turbulent period after a match-fixing scandal, he transformed Team India’s fortunes, particularly in overseas matches.
Celebrating his 52nd birthday on July 8, Ganguly’s career as a legendary captain is marked by significant victories. One of the most memorable was India’s triumph in the 2002 NatWest series against England, capped by his iconic jersey-waving gesture at Lord’s.
He made his international debut in 1992, featuring in an ODI against the West Indies. Four years later, Ganguly announced his arrival in Test cricket with consecutive centuries in England. Under his captaincy, India reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup, though they were defeated by Ricky Ponting’s Australia.
However, his tenure faced challenges in 2005 when Greg Chappell’s appointment as head coach led to controversies. Criticism leaked to the media resulted in Ganguly being dropped from the team, replaced by Rahul Dravid as captain. Undeterred, Ganguly staged a strong comeback in 2006 during a tour of South Africa, culminating in a career-best Test score of 239 against Pakistan in Bangalore the following year.
After retiring from international cricket in 2008 and all forms of the game in 2012, Ganguly remained active in cricket as a commentator and served as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal from 2015. He later became a mentor for Delhi Capitals in the IPL before serving as BCCI President. Currently, he holds the role of Head of Cricket (Director) at Delhi Capitals.
Sourav Ganguly’s innings, including his memorable performances like scoring 239 against Pakistan and pivotal knocks in international cricket, cement his legacy as one of India’s cricketing greats.
