Sourav Ganguly's 10 best knocks in international cricket

#5 60 vs England, Lord’s, Natwest Series final, July 13, 2002

Ganguly was also the star of India’s Natwest Tri-Series victory in England in 2002

This game is remembered more for what Ganguly did standing on the players’ balcony than what he did on the field, despite the latter being as critical to one of the greatest Indian victories on foreign soil, as the former was to paying back Andrew Flintoff’s debts with a sweet tinge of interest. Chasing 326 runs to win, in the final of the Natwest Tri-Series, after Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain had registered magnificent hundreds to take England to 325/5 in 50 overs. That Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif pulled off an improbable-looking run-chase has been at the tip of every Indian cricket fan’s tongue, but what is most often forgotten his the start that the Indian captain gave to his team.

When Ganguly opened the Indian innings alongside Virender Sehwag, it was the right-handed basher from Delhi who was expected to give Indian the brisk start that was needed to have any chance of chasing the mammoth English total. However, what happened was quite the opposite, with Ganguly taking the charge from ball one and taking it upon himself the responsibility to dent the English bowling in the early stages of the innings. The skipper's 43-ball 60 contained 10 fours and 1 six and laid the perfect platform for the middle order to capitalise upon, after putting up 103 runs for the 1st wicket inside 15 overs.