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Sourav Ganguly

Overview

Sourav Chandidas Ganguly is a former Indian cricketer, captain of the India national cricket team, and cricket administrator. Widely regarded as one of India's most influential captains, he is known for his elegant left-handed batting, particularly against fast bowling on the off side, which earned him nicknames such as "Dada" and "the God of the Off Side". He served as the 39th President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from October 2019 to October 2022.

Key Facts

Full name Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
Born 8 July 1972, Behala, Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal
Nickname Dada, Maharaj, Prince of Calcutta
Batting Left-handed
Bowling Right-arm medium
Role Top-order batsman, occasional bowler
Test debut 20 June 1996 vs England, Lord's
ODI debut 11 January 1992 vs West Indies, Brisbane
Domestic team Bengal
IPL teams Kolkata Knight Riders, Pune Warriors India
India captain 2000–2005 (Tests and ODIs)
BCCI President October 2019 – October 2022
Spouse Dona Ganguly

Background

Ganguly was born into a wealthy Bengali family in Behala, a southern neighbourhood of Calcutta. His father, Chandidas Ganguly, ran a successful print business, and the family's affluence contributed to the "Maharaj" (prince) tag. His elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly, also played first-class cricket for Bengal and later served as a cricket administrator. Sourav studied at St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata, and was initially encouraged toward football before turning to cricket. Although a natural right-hander, he learnt to bat left-handed so that he could use his brother's equipment.

Playing career

Early career

Ganguly made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal in the 1989–90 season. He was selected for the Indian ODI side that toured Australia in 1991–92, making his debut at the Gabba in Brisbane, but did not play another international match for over four years.

International breakthrough (1996)

Recalled to the side for the tour of England in 1996, Ganguly made his Test debut at Lord's, scoring 131 — becoming only the third player to score a century on Test debut at the venue. He followed it with 136 in the next Test at Trent Bridge, establishing himself in the team.

Partnership with Sachin Tendulkar

Through the late 1990s, Ganguly formed one of the most prolific opening partnerships in ODI cricket with Sachin Tendulkar. He was a key figure in India's run to the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa, where India lost to Australia.

Captaincy

Following the match-fixing crisis of 2000, Ganguly was appointed captain of the Indian team. His tenure is credited with rebuilding team morale and instilling a more aggressive, self-belief-driven culture. Notable achievements as captain include:

  • Winning the NatWest Series final at Lord's in 2002 against England.
  • Reaching the joint-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka).
  • Leading India to the 2003 World Cup final.
  • Drawing the 2003–04 Test series in Australia 1–1, with India winning at Adelaide.
  • Winning India's first Test series in Pakistan in 2004.

Under his captaincy, India also won 11 Test matches abroad, then a record for an Indian captain. He gave early opportunities to players such as Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Mohammad Kaif.

Conflict with Greg Chappell and comeback

In 2005, a public dispute with then head coach Greg Chappell led to Ganguly losing the captaincy and eventually his place in the side. After a period out of the team, he returned in late 2006 and produced strong performances, including consistent runs in Test series against South Africa, Pakistan and Australia, before retiring from international cricket after the home Test series against Australia in November 2008.

Indian Premier League

Ganguly captained Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and continued with the franchise until 2010. He played for Pune Warriors India in 2011 and 2012 before retiring from all forms of cricket.

Statistical highlights

  • Tests: 113 matches, over 7,000 runs at an average above 40, with 16 centuries.
  • ODIs: 311 matches, more than 11,000 runs, with 22 centuries.
  • One of the few players to have scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs alongside contemporaries Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and others.
  • Four consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards in ODIs in 1997, an ICC record.

Administrative career

Ganguly served as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) from 2015. In October 2019, he was elected as the 39th President of the BCCI, succeeding the Committee of Administrators (CoA) regime. His tenure saw the staging of the IPL during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates (2020), the expansion of the IPL to ten teams (2022), and India hosting the T20 World Cup squad selections and bilateral series during the period. His term ended in October 2022, when Roger Binny was elected as his successor.

Other roles

  • Commentator and analyst for various broadcasters.
  • Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee (2021–2022).
  • Director of Cricket and mentor with the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise (from 2019, before stepping aside on becoming BCCI President; later returned in advisory roles with franchises).
  • Author of the autobiography A Century Is Not Enough (2018), co-written with Gautam Bhattacharya.

Honours and recognition

  • Padma Shri, Government of India, 2004.
  • Banga Bibhushan, the highest civilian award of the Government of West Bengal.
  • Ranked among Wisden's leading ODI batsmen of his era.
  • Multiple ICC and BCCI awards during his playing career.

Personal life

Ganguly married Dona Roy, an Odissi dancer and a childhood acquaintance, in 1997. The couple have a daughter, Sana. He continues to live in Behala, Kolkata, and is closely associated with cricket and civic life in West Bengal.

Significance

Ganguly is credited with transforming the temperament of Indian cricket at the turn of the millennium, particularly in overseas conditions. His captaincy laid much of the groundwork for the team's later successes under Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victories. As an administrator, he became one of the few former India captains to head the BCCI, bridging the player and governance sides of Indian cricket.

References

  • BCCI official records and press releases.
  • ICC player profiles and statistical archives.
  • Ganguly, Sourav, with Gautam Bhattacharya. A Century Is Not Enough. Juggernaut Books, 2018.
  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, various editions.