Regardless of how many T20 competitions emerge in other countries each year, the Indian Premier League remains the most-watched cricket league globally. The 2018 edition promises a thrill, with each squad vying for the prized trophy. This year's mega auction included 1574 registered players, with the BCCI settling on a total of 574 names going under the hammer.

366 names were Indian/domestic players, 208 are overseas cricketers, including three associate nation players, were under all the teams radar between November 24th and 25th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, this year's IPL mega auction has generated some surprise buyers and unsold talents throughout the years, causing a lot of debate among fans and critics. Here is a list of five renowned players who went unsold during the IPL Auction and deserved to make it through the lucrative cricket competition, even after their stupendous contributions. 

David Warner

David Warner, the swashbuckling left-hand batter from down under, has got unsold in the ongoing 2025 IPL Mega Auction, which has undoubtedly raised the eyebrows of many. David Warner, an IPL icon, is a former winning captain who has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first-ever title in 2016. Despite his outstanding league record, his past two seasons were ordinary, especially given his lofty expectations.

As a result, when his name was called, no franchise raised their paddles, and the former IPL captain went unsold at the auction. In 184 matches, he has made 6565 runs at an average of over 40 while striking 62 half-centuries and four centuries, making him the fourth-highest run-getter in IPL. 

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, an Indian cricketing star, was released by his home team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and 'Dada' found plenty of suitors at the 2011 auction. Indeed, it was a shock for many fanatics and critics, and they raised their voices and protested the Knight Rider's big step for a brief period.

Despite Ganguly being signed by the Pune Warriors (gone) during the season to replace the injured Ashish Nehra, it served as a clear reminder that teams valued form and age over fame and notoriety. In 59 IPL appearances, he scored 1349 runs at an average of more than 25 and took ten wickets.  

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow of England and David Warner had a devastating opening combination against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, since joining Punjab Kings, the Yorkshire batter has battled for consistency. Despite his lack of form, Bairstow's ability to keep wickets would have been advantageous for the teams, but they chose not to pursue that option, leaving the player unsold. 

Bairstow, with a base price of 2 crore, failed to generate any interest across all the franchises. His poor recent results over the last two seasons are a big reason why the English power hitter has found no admirers in Jeddah. In his IPL career, he has played half a century of matches and amassed 1589 runs, averaging over 35. He has struck nine half-centuries and two centuries.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Overpriced Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Steve Smith

Former Australia captain Steve Smith is considered in the same breath as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root, together known as the 'Fab Four'. However, Smith's fortunes in the IPL have not been kind.

The great batter, who guided Rising Pune SuperGiants to the IPL final way back in 2017, has played for four teams: Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, and the Delhi Capitals. Not to forget he has pulled the Rising Pune Supergiant to their first-ever final, though they ended as runners-up. Smith went unsold in both the 2022 and 2024 auctions. In 103 matches, he has scored a total of 2485 runs, averaging at 35.  

Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla was drafted by Kings XI Punjab in 2016 to replace the injured Shaun Marsh. Amla established a strong case for himself as a credible opening batsman. The speedy player scored 577 runs in 16 matches, including two centuries and three half-centuries, for an average of 44.38.

The South African icon was genuinely excellent for Kings XI Punjab at the top of the order, but he went unsold in the IPL 2018 and 2019 auctions. Despite being statistically extremely good in limited-overs cricket, none of the IPL clubs selected him, leading him to announce his retirement immediately from international cricket.

The former Indian captain is confident about the Indian team for the crucial upcoming away Test series against Australia. He is hopeful of Indian batters' performances on the better Australian batting track. 

India recently suffered a shocking 3-0 home Test whitewash against New Zealand. The Blackcaps stunned everyone with their performances, especially when Kane Williamson wasn’t present in all three Tests of that series.

Watch: Virat Kohli reveals his best Test knock in Australia

In Australia, the tracks will be good for batting: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and the former BCCI president, feels that the “undercooked” term doesn’t justify the Indian team, as they recently played five home Tests. 

Ganguly told PTI, “Undercooked is a term used when you haven’t played any Test cricket at all. They have just played five Tests in last seven weeks so how does the question even arise?”

Despite the shocking home whitewash in the Test series against New Zealand, Ganguly pointed out the major differences between that home Test series and the upcoming away Test series against Australia.

The former BCCI president added, “I can understand that the defeat against New Zealand was unexpected but you have to understand we played on some extremely difficult tracks. In Australia, the tracks will be good for batting." 

Shubman’s injury is jolt for the team

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, Australia and India will play a five-match Test series, starting on November 22. Perth will host the Test series opener, where the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill can’t participate. Ganguly admitted that Gill’s injury is a jolt for the team, but he has enough faith in the other players.  

Ganguly said, “Shubman’s injury is jolt for the team no doubt as he is an in-form batter and has scored in Australia. A thumb fracture could rule him out for two Tests.

“But I believe the other batters would step up in absence of Rohit (on paternity leave) and Shubman during the first Test. I don’t think New Zealand defeat would have any bearing on this series."

Ganguly on Nitish Kumar Reddy

Talking about the team combination, Ganguly feels that the first Test at Perth and the third Test at Gabba shouldn’t go with two specialist spinners. In these matches, India can use players like the pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently played three T20Is during the Bangladesh tour of India last October. 

Ganguly said, “Look, there is absolutely no point in playing two specialist spinners either at Perth (Optus) or at the Gabba (Brisbane). You obviously need to find a way to play Reddy in these conditions. He is a good batsman and coming in at lower middle order, it will lend proper balance to the side." 

Ganguly on Mohammed Shami's return

Meanwhile. Ganguly is very happy with Mohammed Shami’s return to the game after almost a year and feels that the pacer is ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

Ganguly claimed, “Shami bowled nearly 45 overs, fielded for more than 100 overs and also scored some runs. That’s a good enough fitness test to be sent to Australia because you need a bowler of his calibre alongside Jasprit Bumrah."

Former Indian player Venugopal Rao, who featured in 16 ODIs for India from 2005 to 2006, is likely to replace Sourav Ganguly as Director of Cricket in Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Alongside him, another former India player Hemang Badani will be the new head coach of Delhi as well. According to a report in Cricbuzz on Wednesday (October 16), Badani will replace Ricky Ponting as head coach as well.

However, Badani has earlier worked with Brian Lara in Sunrisers Hyderabad as well, but here it will be his first assignment as head coach of any IPL team as well. The former Tamil Nadu player also played four Tests and 40 ODIs between 2001-2004 for the Men in Blue and scored an ODI century against Australia during the 2001 bilateral series as well. Meanwhile, Badani and Venugopal are known for their strong association and as per the report, Delhi Capitals' management has granted them the freedom to pick the rest of the coaching staff as well.

Hemang Badani will be the new head coach of Delhi

Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting, who was associated with the Delhi Capitals from 2018, parted ways with the Delhi Capitals in July 2024, appointed as the new head coach of the Punjab Kings last month as well.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

“Hemang Badani will take charge as head coach for the upcoming two seasons. Additionally, Badani’s former India teammate, Venugopal Rao, will serve as the team’s director of cricket,” the Cricbuzz report stated.

“Both Venugopal and Badani have been involved with the franchise’s subsidiaries elsewhere—mainly in the ILT20 in the UAE and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US. Incidentally, both those sides—Dubai Capitals and Seattle Orcas—are owned by Delhi Capitals co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi of the GMR Group. The JSW group is the other co-owner of the Delhi side, and the GMR group currently holds the reins of the franchise management that alternates between the partners every two years.”

Delhi Capitals to retain Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav

However, the Delhi Capitals are likely to retain captain Rishabh Pant (18 crore), all-rounder Axar Patel (Rs 14 crore), and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 11 crore) before the IPL 2025 mega auction. Moreover, there's a possibility that Australian top-order batter Jake-Fraser McGurk, who made his IPL debut last year, and South African player Tristan Stubbs could be picked with the Right To Match (RTM) cards if their price tags are within budget as well.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly isn’t worried about the right-arm fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s absence for the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh. He also praised another Bengal pacer Akash Deep.

Last Sunday (September 8), the men’s national selection committee chose the 16-member Indian squad for the first Test of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at Chennai. This Test series will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship, which will begin on September 19. 

Although it was expected that Mohammed Shami could return to the national squad for the Chennai Test after recovering from the injury, the selectors have decided to give him more time in the recovery process.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly isn’t worried about Shami’s injury. He feels that Shami will be more important for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. 

Ganguly said, according to the PTI, “I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It’s still a very good attack.”

Akash Deep is one to watch out for: Sourav Ganguly

For the upcoming Chennai Test, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are ready in the Indian pace-bowling line-up along with Akash Deep and the uncapped left-arm pacer Yash Dayal.

SEE ALSO: Yash Dayal earns Test call-up after battling IPL horror debut: A remarkable journey

Ganguly highly praised the 27-year-old right-arm pacer Akash Deep. The former Indian captain believes that he is one to watch out for.  

Ganguly said, “Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. I’ve seen him play for Bengal, taking wickets. He will be as quick as Siraj and Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for.”

In his 32 first-class matches, Akash Deep took 116 wickets. He also picked up 42 wickets in 28 List A games, and 49 wickets in 42 T20s. During the Ranchi Test against England last February, he made his Test debut and picked up three wickets. He is also a handy right-handed batter.  

During the Duleep Trophy 2024/25 first round, India A cricketer Akash Deep took nine wickets (4/60 and 5/56) and scored 11 and fighting 43 runs. However, they still suffered a defeat against India B. 

India are a very good team: Sourav Ganguly

Talking about the upcoming Chennai Test, the former Indian captain talked about the strong Indian spin-bowling line-up.  

Ganguly said, “In India, you will see a lot more spin. In Chennai, you will see a lot more bounce. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep are the four best spinners in the world at the moment — it won’t be easy. When you play in India, spinners have a lot more say in the game. But India are a very good team.”

Sourav Ganguly talked about upcoming Australia and England tour

Later this year, India will tour Australia for a five-match Test series (Border-Gavaskar Trophy). In mid-2025, India will tour England for another five-match Test series. Ganguly feels that these two away Test series will be the real test for the Indian cricket team. 

Ganguly said, “I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong.”

Cricket is frequently regarded as a religion in India and is far more popular than any other sport, with fans eager to see their favourite players perform well. In the past, fans saw several players involved in issues that shook the cricket community and became global discussion points.

Cricket history has witnessed several incidents involving foreign and domestic players, shaking the sport and becoming a hot topic among millions of cricket fans. Indian cricketers have also been involved in various similar confrontations and scandals. On that point, let us look at the top five controversies in Indian cricket history.

The 2000 Match-fixing story

The match-fixing incident of 2000 shocked the whole cricketing community. The incident occurred during the South African team’s 2000 tour to India when Delhi police overheard a conversation between a bookmaker and Proteas captain Hansie Cronje while listening to criminal discussions. The theme of the talk was match-fixing.

Much to the amazement of the cricketing community, Delhi Police filed a case against Cronje, who later denied the claims. Later, the South African cricket authority established the King’s Commission to investigate, and prominent figures such as the then-Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, and famed all-rounder Ajay Jadeja were added to the match-fixing list. According to a dossier presented by the CBI, Mohammad Azharuddin also introduced former South African captain Hansie Cronje to a gang of bookmakers.

Greg Chappell vs Sourav Ganguly

Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly had the worst captain-coach conflict in Indian cricket history, and it was undoubtedly one of the worst in Indian cricket textbooks. It all began during India’s tour of Zimbabwe when Chappell urged that Ganguly be dismissed from the Indian test team. He also claimed that Ganguly is neither psychologically or physically prepared to head the Indian squad. Ganguly also criticised himself for recommending Greg Chappell as India’s coach.

Following the Zimbabwe trip, the leading selectors decided to remove Ganguly as captain, and he was eventually sacked from the ODI team as well. The decision to drop Ganguly from the Indian team did not go well with Indian supporters, who burned Chappell’s effigies and protested on the streets. His notorious tenure as Indian head coach ended when the Men in Blue were eliminated from the 2007 World Cup in the group round.

The Monkeygate Incident: Harbhajan Singh vs Andrew Symonds

The controversial clash between India’s reliable spinner, Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s top all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, a.k.a, the Monkeygate incident, occurred during India’s 2008 tour of Australia and is regarded as one of the most significant scandals in Indian cricket history.

The incident saw a confrontation between Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second match at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. It reached the point where the tourists chose to withdraw from the trip before the ICC constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the situation. Next, the committee’s investigation, Harbhajan Singh’s three-match Test suspension was removed, and India won the next Test match.

Also Read: “I’m sure we’re going to be on the same page” – Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli

IPL & Spot-fixing

This controversy shocked millions of cricket fans in India after learning that the Indian Premier League 2013 season had been tarnished by spot-fixing and betting events. Two well-known IPL franchises, the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, were banned for two years in a row due to their involvement in the betting scam.

On the other hand, the Delhi Police detained three Rajasthan Royals players, S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan, for spot-fixing accusations in the IPL. The team’s owners, Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, were arrested, and both CSK and RR franchises were suspended for two years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) closely checks the competition to ensure no such disputes arise.

Virat Kohli vs Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble’s dismissal as head coach of the Indian cricket team in 2017 remains one of the most contentious issues in Indian cricket. Following India’s defeat against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, Kumble was sacked as the team’s head coach. Kumble was asked to resign after only one year as the team’s head coach.

At the time, various publications highlighted conflicts between Kohli and Kumble as the primary cause for his dismissal as head coach. The captain and head coach were apparently at odds, which resulted in the dramatic firing. According to reports, Kohli was contacted when the authorities decided to extend the coach’s employment, but he stated that Kumble’s tutoring made junior players feel “intimidated”.

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant had an impressive IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs in 13 matches. Despite this the team doesn’t seem fully satisfied with the 26 year old’s performance.

Reports say that Rishabh Pant might be transferred from Delhi Capitals to Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to Dainik Jagran, DC is debating whether to keep Pant or let him go due to concerns about his recent form.

There’s also a chance Pant could be traded to another team, but DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, appears interested in keeping him as captain.

Dhoni’s potential retirement and Its impact

If DC decides to release Pant he might join Chennai Super Kings. The team is looking for a wicketkeeper to potentially replace MS Dhoni if he retires from the IPL, and Pant is a top candidate for the job. Dhoni’s future in the IPL is uncertain with a chance he might not play in 2025.

Pant made a strong comeback this season after recovering from a car accident in December 2022. He scored 446 runs, including three half-centuries, and also played as India’s No. 3 batsman in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he scored 171 runs in eight matches.

RCB’s search for an Indian captain

Meanwhile, KL Rahul might leave Lucknow Super Giants after a three year period. Following a tough 10 wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka criticized Rahul, casting doubt on his future with the team.

Rahul could return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he played for in 2013 and 2016. Under Faf du Plessis RCB reached the IPL playoffs this season, but they were eliminated in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals. Reports suggest RCB is considering an Indian player as captain, and if Rahul joins he might take on that role.

Former Indian captain and Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly slammed critics who earlier blasted him for making Rohit Sharma the skipper in early 2022. Ganguly also feels Rohit can lead India to glory and it happened in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. However, the same critics have almost forgotten who made the decision then.

After Virat Kohli was forced to step down from captaincy following India’s poor 2021 T20 World Cup campaign and was replaced by Rohit in a few months, Ganguly faced criticism on social media from fans. However, in a conversation with Ajkaal today, he gave a stern reminder to critics as well.

“When I handed Rohit Sharma the captaincy of the Indian team, everyone criticised me. Now that India has won the T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, everyone has stopped abusing me for it. In fact, I think everyone has forgotten that it was I who appointed him as the captain of the Indian team,” said Ganguly.

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s coming home’ – Team India to reach New Delhi on Thursday

“I want DC to win this time” – Sourav Ganguly

However, Team India did exceptionally well throughout the 2024 T20 World Cup to become the first-ever side to win the title without a single defeat as well. They also qualified for the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup final under Rohit Sharma but failed to win.

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly, Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals (DC), also wanted the franchise to break through and win the elusive IPL title. However, the franchise separated from seven-year head coach Ricky Ponting, who was at the top from 2018 to 2024 as well. After three consecutive playoff runs from 2019 to 2021, they missed the top four in the three seasons since then as well.

“I am planning for the next IPL. I want DC to win this time. I will speak to the management about appointing an Indian as the head coach. I want to give a shot as the head coach. I will bring in some new players,” added Sourav Ganguly.

Indian Premier League (IPL) team DC has decided to part ways with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting as their head coach, ending his seven-year stint with the franchise. The news, shared via DC’s official social media channels, has sparked considerable interest among Indian cricket enthusiasts.

It’s reported that former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who previously served as an advisor under Ponting, is a leading candidate to step into the coaching role for the upcoming season.

Ricky Ponting’s legacy and challenges

During his tenure, Ponting led the team through several T20 star studded lineups but couldn’t secure DC’s first IPL title. Even with captain Rishabh Pant’s return from injury in the recently concluded IPL 2024, DC finished sixth in the points table, missing out on a playoff spot.

“Dear Ricky, As you move on as our Head Coach, we’re finding it incredibly hard to put this down in words. The commitment, attitude and effort – they sum up our seven summers together,” DC’s statement said in X.

“Thank you for everything, Coach! Like you often close out. ‘Lets leave this here mate, grab a beer, get back to work tomorrow, yeah?” -statement added.

Prior to Ponting’s dismissal, Ganguly had hinted to the Bengali daily ‘Aajkaal’ that changes were being contemplated within the franchise. He confirmed his interest in taking over as head coach and has already begun discussions with team owners regarding potential player acquisitions for IPL 2025.

Sourav Ganguly new coach? 

“Let me give you some news. Ricky Ponting won’t be the DC coach any more. Geoffery Boycott is absolutely right! Ponting has not been able to take DC forward in these seven years. Need to talk to the management. I would suggest looking at Indian options for the coach,” Ganguly told Aajkaal.

“Why not me? Let’s see if I can do it or not. We need to rope in some new players. I wanted to bring in England’s new star Jamie Smith for DC’s SA20 side (Pretoria Capitals). He was even ready to come in, but then England will be busy for their India tour at that time,” Ganguly added.

When asked about his potential replacement, Ganguly openly expressed his willingness to take on the role himself. Since joining DC in 2019, Ganguly has worked closely with Ponting, but this recent development and Ganguly’s proactive approach indicate a new chapter for the franchise in the IPL.

It’s been two decades since the cricket world witnessed one of the greatest battles on the 22 yards when India and England clashed in the final of the 2002 NatWest Trophy on July 13 at Lord’s. The Men in Blue dedicated their sweat and blood until Sourav Ganguly marked the historic victory by waving his shirt from Lord’s balcony. Under Ganguly’s leadership, India played exceptionally well throughout the tri-series, winning four of their five league games. Heading into the final to meet the hosts, there were doubts about whether they could replicate their earlier performances. However, through extraordinary team effort and Ganguly’s aggressive approach, India lifted the historic NatWest Trophy.

The match: A display of grit and determination

On July 13, 2002, India pulled off a stunning 2-wicket victory in the NatWest Series final against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Chasing a daunting target of 326, Indian openers Ganguly and Virender Sehwag provided a solid foundation with a 102-run stand. However, wickets began to tumble, leaving India in a precarious position at 146/5. A brilliant partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif turned the tide in India’s favour. The duo added 121 runs, with Yuvraj scoring a majestic 69 and Kaif remaining unbeaten on 87.

As the drama continued and wickets fell at regular intervals, the tension was palpable. Needing 12 runs from the last 4 overs, Harbhajan Singh’s quickfire 15 off just 8 balls brought India within touching distance. With 2 runs needed off the final ball, Rahul Dravid, the epitome of calmness, nudged the ball past the fielder, sending the Indian dressing room and a sizeable Indian contingent in the crowd into a frenzy.

The heroes and the iconic celebration by Ganguly

The victory at Lord’s marked a significant milestone in Indian cricket, showcasing the team’s growing confidence and ability to perform under pressure. From Ganguly’s captaincy to Rahul Dravid’s composure and the heroics of Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, and Harbhajan Singh, each player contributed to the triumph. Ganguly’s shirt-waving celebration was more than just a spontaneous expression of joy. It was a statement of defiance, a response to the criticism and scepticism India faced during the series. In a moment that captured the nation’s imagination, Ganguly took off his jersey and waved it in defiance at the Lord’s balcony, a gesture that reverberated across India. This act signified India’s newfound aggression and self-belief.

See Also: Women’s Asia Cup 2024 schedule: Fixtures, match timings and venues – Cricket Winner

The 2002 NatWest Trophy win was more than just a victory; it was a watershed moment for Indian cricket. It marked the arrival of a new, aggressive India, one that wouldn’t be cowed by tradition or reputation. The team, under Ganguly’s leadership, ushered in a new era of dominance in world cricket. Today, we celebrate the heroes who made it possible, and the triumph remains one of India’s most memorable victories in international cricket, continuing to inspire generations of cricket fans.

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.