Happy Birthday Sourav Ganguly: Indian cricket’s ‘Dada’ turns 52, wishes pour in

One of the greatest captains to have led India in cricket, Sourav Ganguly, turned 52 on Monday, July 8. The ‘Dada’ of Indian cricket is much-loved and the respect and adulation for the legendary cricketer was evident on Monday as wishes poured in for him. Manoj Tiwary was among the many who wished the former cricketer, expressing his love for the former Bengal captain. It’s been a celebratory week for the cricket fans in India as MS Dhoni celebrated his birthday on Sunday, spending the special day with his wife Sakshi.

Sourav Ganguly finished his career as one of the most successful captains in the game. Only numbers don’t do justice to the impact Sourav Ganguly had on Indian cricket. The Prince of Calcutta inspired quite a few next-gen cricketers to become superstars. Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni are a few who got the backing of Ganguly when they made their foray into international cricket as young guns in the early 2000s.

Ganguly began his career with a bang, scoring a remarkable debut century at Lord’s in 1996. This impressive start set the stage for his future success, and he quickly established himself as a talented and stylish batsman. His partnership with Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs was particularly formidable, and the duo formed a strong opening pair for India. Ganguly’s early years in international cricket were marked by his elegant stroke play and ability to dominate bowlers. As a left-handed batsman, his cover drives were particularly eye-catching, and he quickly became a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup.

Ganguly’s evolution into captaincy was a pivotal moment in Indian cricket. He took charge as captain in 1999 and swiftly proved himself to be a resilient and perceptive leader. Ganguly made sure Indian cricket fans fell in love with the senior national men’s team again, helping them put behind the scars of the match-fixing scandal.

Under his leadership, Ganguly transformed the Indian team into a fearless and competitive unit. His aggressive captaincy style was a departure from the more conservative approaches of his predecessors, and it brought a new sense of self-belief to the team.

BOSSING AUSTRALIA

One of Ganguly’s notable achievements as captain was his role in leading India to the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. Ganguly made India believe once again that they can compete at the highest level and take on the big boys of world cricket. Although India fell short in the final against a dominant Australian side, reaching the final itself was a significant accomplishment and rejuvenated the spirit of Indian cricket.

Ganguly’s tenure as captain was also marked by notable successes against Australia, one of the strongest teams in world cricket. The 2001 home Test series against Australia is particularly memorable, with India coming back from a follow-on to win the Kolkata Test, thanks to an epic partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. Ganguly’s aggressive captaincy and strategic acumen played a crucial role in that series victory, which is considered one of India’s greatest Test series wins.

THE INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

Beyond his on-field achievements, Ganguly is widely credited with mentoring and nurturing several young cricketers who went on to become key players for India. He backed the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan, providing them with opportunities and instilling confidence in them. His ability to spot talent and his faith in young players were instrumental in shaping the future of Indian cricket.

Ganguly’s leadership style, characterised by his aggression, confidence, and ability to inspire his teammates, left a lasting legacy. He laid the foundation for the next generation of Indian cricketers and set the stage for India’s future successes, including the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victories.

The former BCCI president would have certainly been proud when Rohit Sharma and his men lifted the T20 World Cup last month in Barbados.