Sourav Ganguly, fondly known as Dada, is a legendary Indian cricketer and former captain of the Indian cricket team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketing minds of his generation, who revolutionized Indian cricket with his aggressive captaincy and fearless approach to the game. Born on July 8, 1972, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Ganguly grew up in a family of cricket enthusiasts. He made his international debut for India in 1992 and went on to become one of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team. Under his leadership, India won numerous Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs), including the NatWest Trophy in 2002 and reaching the final of the 2003 World Cup.
Sourav Ganguly
Personal Information
| Born : | Jul 08, 1972 |
| Birth Place : | Kolkata, Bengal |
| Height : | 5 ft 11 in |
| Role : | Batsman |
| Batting Style : | Left Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style : | Right-arm medium |
Ganguly’s aggressive captaincy and self-belief in the team helped India achieve historic victories, including the famous Test series win against Australia in 2001. He was also a prolific batsman, scoring over 18,000 runs in international cricket, including 38 centuries.
After retiring from cricket, Ganguly continued his association with the game as a commentator and administrator. He was appointed as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019, where he has been instrumental in introducing new initiatives to improve Indian cricket.
Sourav Ganguly’s contribution to Indian cricket is immeasurable, and his legacy as the Maharaja of Indian cricket will always be remembered by cricket fans across the world.
Sourav Ganguly Iconic Shirtless Celebration at Lord’s
Sourav Ganguly’s shirtless celebration at Lord’s cricket ground during the NatWest Trophy final against England in 2002 has become one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. It was a spontaneous gesture of jubilation that captured the hearts of millions of cricket fans, but what was the story behind it?
In the lead-up to the NatWest Trophy final, the Indian team had faced constant criticism from the English media, who had labeled them as “unprofessional” and “lazy.” Ganguly and his team were determined to prove their critics wrong and had their backs against the wall during the chase, with India losing wickets at regular intervals.
However, young guns Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh batted brilliantly and shared a match-winning partnership to guide India to victory. The Indian dressing room erupted with joy, and Ganguly’s shirtless celebration was a spontaneous outburst of emotion.
Ganguly himself has mentioned in interviews that the gesture was a response to the constant criticism that the Indian team faced during their tour of England. It was his way of expressing his team’s determination and proving their critics wrong. He also added that he didn’t plan it and didn’t know what he was doing at the time.
The image of Ganguly waving his shirt in the air has become one of the defining moments in Indian cricket history. It symbolizes the passion, determination, and fighting spirit of the Indian team, who refused to give up even in the face of adversity.
Sourav Ganguly Cricket Career :
Batting Records & Stats
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 113 | 188 | 17 | 7212 | 239 | 42.18 | 14070 | 51.26 | 16 | 1 | 35 | 900 | 57 |
| ODI | 311 | 300 | 21 | 11363 | 183 | 40.73 | 15416 | 73.71 | 22 | 0 | 72 | 1122 | 190 |
| IPL | 59 | 56 | 3 | 1349 | 91 | 25.45 | 1263 | 106.81 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 137 | 42 |
Bowling Records & Stats
| Format | M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 113 | 99 | 3117 | 1681 | 32 | 3/28 | 3/37 | 3.24 | 52.53 | 97.41 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 311 | 171 | 4561 | 3849 | 100 | 5/16 | 5/16 | 5.06 | 38.49 | 45.61 | 2 | 0 |
| IPL | 59 | 20 | 276 | 363 | 10 | 2/21 | 2/21 | 7.89 | 36.3 | 27.6 | 0 | 0 |
Why is Saurav Ganguly called maharaja of Indian cricket ?
Sourav Ganguly is often referred to as the “Maharaja of Indian cricket” because of his immense contribution to Indian cricket as a player, captain, and administrator. As a player, Saurav Ganguly had a highly successful career, scoring over 18,000 runs in international cricket, including 38 centuries. He was a key member of the Indian cricket team during his playing days and played a crucial role in some of India’s most significant victories, both at home and abroad.
Ganguly’s leadership as the captain of the Indian cricket team was also highly acclaimed. He led India in 49 Test matches and 146 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and was known for his aggressive captaincy and his ability to bring out the best in his players. Under his leadership, the Indian team achieved many significant victories, including the famous NatWest Trophy win in 2002 and a historic Test series win against Australia in 2001. Apart from his playing and captaincy career, Ganguly has also contributed to Indian cricket as an administrator. He was appointed as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019 and has been instrumental in bringing several reforms to Indian cricket.