Top 5 Sourav Ganguly moments in cricket

Sourav Ganguly, also known as Dada played 113 Tests for India and scored 7212 runs at an average of 42.17. The left-hander from Kolkata captained India in 49 Test matches and led India to a win in 21 of the said 49 Tests.

Dada represented India in 311 ODIs and scored 11363 runs at an impressive average of 41.02 and captained India in 147 ODIs. and winning 76 of them.

Dada captained India in 2000 when the team was going through turbulent times following the match-fixing incident. Dada transformed Indian cricket and it was under his tenure as a captain that India started winning Test matches abroad which was a rarity until the start of the millennium. On the eve of Ganguly's 46th birthday, here is a look at the top 5 Dadagiri moments during Dada’s illustrious career.

#5 Century on debut at Lords followed by another ton at Trent Bridge

Sourav Ganguly scored a century on debut against England at Lord's

Sourav Ganguly made his Test debut against England at Lord's in 1996 and became the first Indian and only the third cricketer in the world to score a hundred on debut at Lord's.

Carrying on his good form, Dada scored another hundred in the next Test played at Trent Bridge and announced his arrival in international cricket.

Dada, playing against a strong bowling attack comprising of Domnic Cork, Allan Mullaly, Peter Martin and Chris Lewis looked completely at ease.The pace, bounce, swing, alien conditions did not affect Ganguly and he dominated the English bowling attack.

A new legend was born in Indian cricket who was destined for many great innings and achievements for Indian cricket.

#4 King of Comebacks

Ganguly's innings of 51 in the first innings helped India to their first victory in Tests on South African soil

Following the differences with the then coach, Greg Chappell, Ganguly was sacked from the national team in 2005. Ganguly was grinding it hard in domestic cricket and was always on the radar of the selectors for being recalled to the national team.

The Indian selectors recalled Dada for the tough assignment of the tour of South Africa in the year 2006.

In his comeback match against a strong South African bowling attack comprising of Pollock, Ntini, Steyn, Kallis and Nel, Dada scored a gutsy 51 on a seaming track at the Wanderers and helped India reach a score of 249 in the first innings.

In fact, Dada’s score of 51 was the highest in the first innings of both the teams as the South African team was bundled out for just 84 in their first innings.

Ganguly's gutsy innings helped India to secure their first test win on South African soil. Dada was back and how in the Indian team much to the delight of all his fans and supporters.

#3 A True Leader: India’s 2003 World Cup campaign

Sourav Ganguly led India to the finals of the 2003 World Cup

The 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya was a perfect platform for Dada to showcase his leadership skills and he did not disappoint.

India under the captaincy of Ganguly thrashed Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Namibia, England and Pakistan in the group stages and lost a solitary match to Australia in the group stage. The Super Sixes were dominated by India and they thrashed Kenya, Sri Lanka and New Zealand by huge margins. India got the better of Kenya in the semis and reached the finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1983.

Australia dominated India in the finals and the dream ended for team India, but Dada’s captaincy throughout the World Cup was spot on.

Ganguly ended the tournament as the second highest run scored scoring 465 runs in 11 matches at an average of 58.12.

#2 The Gabba Century

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly (R) holds

The Indian team arrived in Australia for Steve Waugh’s final Test series at the end of 2003 and not many gave team India a chance to compete against the dominant Australian team who were in their prime.

In the first Test played at the Gabba in Brisbane, Dada scored magnificent 144 runs comprising of 18 boundaries and the Australian bowlers had no clue as to where to bowl to Dada.

This aggressive innings of Dada set the tone for the remainder of the series. The Test in Brisabane ended in a draw due to rain. India went on to win the second Test at Adelaide and Australia drew level the series in the third Test at Melbourne. The fourth Test in Adelaide ended in a draw and India retained the Border Gavaskar series.

Ganguly's captaincy was spot on throughout the series and inspired all the players to give their 100% on the cricket field.

#1 Dadagiri at Lords- Natwest Series Finals 2002

Sourav Ganguly

celebrating

after India won the Natwest Trophy in 2002

Who can forget this historic moment!

In the finals of the 2002 Natwest series at Lord's, India were set a target of 326 against England.

India were reeling at 146-5 when two youngsters Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh guided India to a famous win. Ganguly took off his shirt at the balcony of the famous Lords to celebrate India’s victory. Till date, Ganguly regrets the Shirt Act. After his retirement, when questioned on the same, Ganguly maintained that it was just an instinctive, spur of the moment act and the atmosphere at Lords on that day inspired him for the same.

Ganguly was indeed an aggressive and a dynamic captain who was not shy to show his expressions on the field.