Sourav Ganguly: Celebrating the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ on His 52nd Birthday

New Delhi, India – Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, known as the ‘God of off-side’ by his teammate Rahul Dravid, has made many spectacular contributions to cricket. As he turns 52 today, let’s look back at his nearly two-decade-long career.

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Ganguly made his Test debut against England in 1996, earning the nickname ‘Dada’. He scored a century in his first Test at Lord’s and repeated the feat in his second Test, becoming the third batter in history to score a hundred in each of his first two innings.

Leadership and Achievements

In 2000, Ganguly became the captain of the Indian cricket team during a match-fixing scandal. He led India to the finals of the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy and a historic 2-1 victory over Australia in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. One of his most memorable moments was when he celebrated India’s win in the 2002 Natwest Trophy finals by waving his shirt on the Lord’s balcony.

Ganguly also led India to the World Cup finals in 2003 and oversaw a Test series win in Pakistan in 2004. Despite a spat with coach Greg Chappell in 2005-6, he made a comeback and continued to perform well.

Later Career and Legacy

Ganguly retired from international cricket in 2008 and played in the Indian Premier League until 2012. He scored 18,575 runs in 113 Tests and 311 One-Day Internationals. He also played a key role in introducing day-night Test cricket in India.

After retiring, Ganguly became the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal and later the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He currently serves as the Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

Conclusion

Sourav Ganguly’s contributions to cricket, both on and off the field, have left an indelible mark on the sport. As we celebrate his 52nd birthday, we remember his achievements and the legacy he continues to build.