‘Dada’ of Indian cricket turns 52 

New Delhi: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who was regarded as the ‘God of off-side’ by his teammate Rahul Dravid, has left an indelible mark on cricket, both as a player and administrator. Celebrating his 52nd birthday today, let’s reflect on some pivotal moments from his illustrious two-decade-long career.

Ganguly’s journey began with a spectacular debut at Lord’s in 1996, where he scored a century, setting the stage for a remarkable career. His prowess as an opener alongside Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs became legendary, forming one of the most formidable partnerships in cricket history.

His leadership style was distinctive, earning him the nickname ‘Dada’ after he led India to memorable victories and shaped a new generation of talent amidst the 2000 match-fixing scandal. Under his captaincy, India reached the finals of the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy and famously triumphed over Australia in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, highlighted by VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s epic partnership.

One of Ganguly’s iconic moments came in 2002 when he defiantly stripped off his shirt at Lord’s after India’s thrilling victory in the Natwest Trophy finals. He also led India to the World Cup finals in 2003 and secured India’s first Test series win in Pakistan in 2004.

Despite facing challenges, including a public fallout with coach Greg Chappell in 2005, Ganguly staged a resilient comeback and continued to contribute significantly until his retirement from Test cricket in 2008 and from IPL in 2012. He amassed 18,575 runs in international cricket and played a pivotal role in introducing day-night Test cricket to India, culminating in India’s inaugural day-night Test against Bangladesh in 2019.

Beyond his playing career, Ganguly’s influence extended to cricket administration as he served as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the BCCI, leaving a lasting legacy on Indian cricket.

Sourav Ganguly’s journey is marked not only by his cricketing achievements but also by his leadership, resilience, and lasting impact on the sport in India and beyond. ANI