Former India captain and opening batter Sourav Ganguly turned 52 on Monday, July 8. On his special day, let’s look at how the “Prince of Calcutta” changed Indian cricket.

Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s greatest captains, turned 52 on July 8. Known as ‘Dada,’ he is loved and respected by many. Wishes poured in for him on his birthday, including one from Manoj Tiwary, who expressed his love for the former Bengal captain. Cricket fans in India had more to celebrate as MS Dhoni also had his birthday on Sunday, spending the day with his wife Sakshi.

Ganguly ended his career as one of the most successful captains in cricket. Numbers alone can’t capture his impact on Indian cricket. He inspired many young cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, and MS Dhoni when they started their international careers in the early 2000s.

Ganguly’s memorable debut and early career

Ganguly’s career began with a stunning debut century at Lord’s in 1996. This impressive start set the stage for his future success. He quickly became known as a talented and stylish batsman, forming a strong opening partnership with Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs. Ganguly’s elegant stroke play and ability to dominate bowlers made him a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup.

Ganguly’s rise to captaincy was a key moment for Indian cricket. He became captain in 1999 and soon proved to be a resilient and insightful leader. He helped Indian cricket fans fall in love with the team again, moving past the match-fixing scandal.

Under Ganguly’s leadership, the Indian team became fearless and competitive. His aggressive captaincy style brought new confidence to the team. One of his notable achievements was leading India to the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. Though India lost to Australia in the final, reaching it was a big accomplishment and revived Indian cricket’s spirit.

Triumphs Against Australia

Ganguly’s captaincy also saw significant successes against Australia. The 2001 home Test series win, highlighted by a famous comeback in the Kolkata Test with an epic partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, is one of India’s greatest Test series wins. Ganguly’s aggressive captaincy and strategic skills were crucial in that victory.

Beyond his on-field success, Ganguly is known for mentoring young cricketers who became key players for India. He supported talents like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan, giving them opportunities and building their confidence. His ability to spot and nurture talent shaped the future of Indian cricket.

Ganguly’s legacy of leadership

Ganguly’s leadership, marked by aggression, confidence, and the ability to inspire, left a lasting legacy. He laid the groundwork for the next generation of Indian cricketers and set the stage for future successes, including the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup wins.

As the former BCCI president, Ganguly would surely have been proud when Rohit Sharma and his team lifted the T20 World Cup last month in Barbados.