Name Hindi: सौरव गांगुली / Gender Man
Sourav Ganguly – A Legend of Cricket
Reverently known as ‘Dada’, Sourav Ganguly is a legendary cricket player who, with his talent and leadership qualities, has significantly influenced the landscape of Indian cricket. Born on 8th July 1972 in Kolkata, India, he started his journey in cricket at a very young age.
Career Beginnings
Ganguly was introduced to cricket by his elder brother Snehasish Ganguly, an accomplished cricketer for the Bengal team. He joined a cricket academy and exhibited extraordinary prowess both as a batsman and captain even early in life. Despite getting off to a less than ideal start after being dropped from the team following his maiden ODI tour in Australia, he returned stronger than ever.
A Staggering Comeback
In 1996, Ganguly made his Test debut against England alongside Rahul Dravid. Displaying his natural command of the bat, he scored centuries in each innings of his first two tests – an achievement that stamped him on the radar of international cricket. Furthermore, it marked one of the most sensational comebacks in world cricket history.
Captaincy Era
After showing consistent performance over years and exhibiting great leadership skills on field, Sourav Ganguly assumed the captaincy role for Team India in 2000. Under his guidance, Team India developed not only its technical abilities but also mental fortitude which tremendously boosted their international performance.
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This culminated when led India successfully during World Cup 2003 where they ended up second best losing to Australia in the final match.
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Under his captaincy, India also achieved their first Test series win on foreign soil in nearly two decades against Zimbabwe.
A Masterclass Batsman and Leader
Ganguly’s career spanned for over a decade during which he played 113 test matches and 311 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scored numerous runs and took many wickets. His brilliance as a batsman is reflected through his statistics, which include 16 centuries each in Tests and ODIs, making him one of the highest run-scorers for India in both formats.
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In terms of leadership, with 76 ODI victories under his belt, Ganguly remains India’s most successful cricket captain till date.
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His fearless attitude, paired with his ability to lead from the front, fostered aggression and confidence within the team elevating it to new levels of success
Post Playing Career
Upon retirement, this iconic left-handed batsman continued to remain associated with the game. He served as the president of Cricket Association of Bengal before assuming office as the President of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in October’2019. With the same resolute determination that he strove forward as a cricketer, Sourav begun working extensively towards betterment of Indian cricket infrastructure.
The Legacy of Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly’s legacy goes well beyond mere statistics; he transformed Team India into an aggressive, world-beating unit. His passion for cricket coupled with enviable talent has earned him not only national but international recognition and respect.
Ganguly’s contribution to Indian cricket, both as an exemplary player and charismatic leader, continues to inspire many aspiring cricketers globally.
