Sourav Ganguly – who turns 48 on Wednesday(08/07/2020) – is credited to have backed and nurtured talent before MS Dhoni took over and transformed the side into title holders. Ganguly – assumed control over the captaincy mantle from Mohammad Azharuddin in 2000 during violent occasions. It was when coordinate fixing had shaken Indian cricket and fans had lost trust from the players.
Ganguly – whose career crossed for 10 years and a half, was known for his fortitude and hostility on-the-field. Ganguly – prominently known as Dada – played 113 Tests for India and scored 7212 runs at an average of 42.17. The left-hander from Kolkata captained India in 49 Test matches and drove India to success in 21 of the said 49 Tests.
Ganguly represents India in 311 ODIs and scored 11363 runs at an amazing average of 41.02 and captained nation in 147 ODIs, winning 76 of them.
As the Bengal Tiger turns 48, here is a gander at the top moment from his renowned:
Dream Start: Making his debut at 24 years old, Ganguly left a mark on the world at Lords turning into the primary Indian and the third cricketer on the world to score a hundred on debut at the notable setting. He scored 131 and it came against a considerable English assault that featured Dominic Cork, Allan Mullally, Peter Martin, and Chris Lewis. He shot to acclaim immediately and turned into the toast of the country.
183 versus Sri Lanka: Ganguly – who was not yet made the captain of the side – crushed a remarkable 183 off 158 balls against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match at Taunton. His runs indeed came against a quality attack including Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. His rankling 183 included 17 fours and seven sixes. Ganguly – alongside Rahul Dravid put on a mammoth 318-run-remain to assist India with posting 373/6.
Natwest Glory: The Indian cricket crew was not viewed as great explorers, yet things changed in 2002 when Sourav Ganguly drove the side to an insistent success. India beat England in an epic final at Lords. And who can forget Ganguly removing his shirt and waving it from the gallery at Lords?
Ganguly-Chappell Controversy: Things got ugly for Ganguly – who by then had become a major figure in Indian cricket. Once, previous Australian cricketer, Greg Chappell turned into the mentor of the Indian side – infighting in the dressing-room between the captain and the coach came to the fore in 2005. Soon, Ganguly was stripped of his captaincy and what followed was the exit door.
The Comeback Man: After the sacking of Ganguly, he didn’t surrender, rather he returned to the pound. Ganguly played a bunch of residential matches where he scored runs and persuaded the selectors, that he merited a spot in the side. In 2006, Ganguly was picked for the South Africa tour and he repaid the faith shown to him by the selectors by scoring a gritty 51 in the first Test against a solid South African bowling attack including Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Andre Nel at the Wanderers.
