Face of change of Indian Cricket : "SOURAV GANGULY"

Great Sourav Ganguly acknowledge the crowd from the balcony after the end of his final test match.
Image Source - Google | Image by - Tony Tharakan 

If you sit and want to conclude Indian Cricket in two era's, then it should be "Pre-Ganguly" and "Post-Ganguly". This is what the current President of BCCI had the impact on Indian Cricket. This number 99 came, ruled and went like a King whose shadow is still there in every cricket fan's mind even after 12 years of his retirement.

Lets start from the scratch. On 8th July 1972, a child named Sourav Chandidas Ganguly was born in Calcutta in a rich family and so he was nicknamed as "The Maharaja"(King) and later on by "Bengal Tiger". He started playing cricket in early ages and represented school, district and soon he got call from the Ranji Team. He caught everyone attention by his performance and soon he was selected in Indian Cricket Team in 1992. But he had a forgettable debut against West Indies as he scored only 3 runs. It was not the end of a great Warrior, instead the start of making of the best captain that Indian Cricket ever had..

And the golden moment arrived in 1996. He was recalled for the National Team in 1996 for the England Tour and the rest is history. The Prince of Kolkata struck a classic century in his debut test at the Home of Cricket, "Lord's", He scored fine 131 which is still the highest by a debut player at this ground. He goes onto the next match and scored another century in his 2nd test inning. This mate didn't turn back. He soon became an important part of the national side. 

And then came year 1999-2000, the black phase of Indian Cricket. Lot of senior players involved in match fixing scandals. Indian Cricket was in danger, especially they lost regular captain Md Azhar, senior player Ajay Jadeja (both was accused in match fixing). When the great Sachin Tendulkar refuses the captaincy its that man again, Mr. Sourav Ganguly step up and he became the regular captain of Indian Team. As soon as he arrived as the leader, he brought youngster into the side, the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Md Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and its the same group that helped Indian Team to lift the WC 2011. The tough challenge was knocking the door and the mighty Aussies was on the tour of India in 2001. The Eden Garden win somehow was the turning fortunes for the men in blues. 

 CAPTAINCY RECORD IN TEST MATCHES

VENUE	MATCHES	WON	LOST	DRAW
Home	21	10	3	8
Away	28	11	10	7
Overall	49	21	13	15

Ganguly was praised all over the world and the country now started to believe that this Indian team can win overseas. And who can forget the Natwest 2002 Final, Lord's Balcony and the shirt's are off. He gave his opening slot to Virender Sehwag to bring the best out of him, gave Yuvraj, Kaif, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan the important time to fit into the squad. That's the way to lead youngsters. Its time for 2003 WC in South Africa. India reached the final and lost badly to the Champion's Australia. Heartbreak all over the country but Ganguly kept the team united and motivated for the all important tour of Pakistan in 2004. India won the ODI series 3-2 after going down 1-2 and won the test series by 2-1 as well. Ganguly became the first Indian Captain to win a series in Pakistan. He also had success in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2004 in Australia where Indian team performed well and retained the golden trophy.

India chased 326 in the Natwest Trophy 2002 vs England. Ganguly celebrating with the Man of the Match, Md. Kaif
Image Source - Google | Image by - Twitter - Aakash Chopra@cricketaakash

 CAPTAINCY RECORD IN ODI MATCHES

VENUE	MATCHES	WON	LOST	NR
Home	36	18	18	0
Away	51	24	24	3
Neutral	59	34	23	2
Overall	146	76	65	5

Someone truly said."Every good thing has an ending". Yes its true but the way fortunes changed for Ganguly was unbelievable. Its all started after the John Wright-Ganguly partnership broke down. Its new Coach of Indian Team, Mr. Greg Chappell. As soon as he arrived in the management, it seems like he wanted to rule the team in his own terms. His rift with captain Ganguly soon got spark and the man who changed the face of Indian Cricket removed from the Captaincy and soon kicked out of the team. It seems like he was left alone by everyone. Heartbreak to each and every fan of the country. 

Image Source - Google | Image by - m.rediff

Ganguly was known as the "Comeback Man" for a reason. He turned back to county cricket, scored runs. At the same time Indian Team ,under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid was going through lean patch. Indian Team had a poor champions trophy 2006, then was blanked by South Africa in ODI's. As a result of hard work and some injuries in the team, Ganguly was selected for the Test series in South Africa. He performed well among the other players. He soon selected for the ODI's and performed in the very first match scored 98 vs West Indies before getting run out. Year later he scored his career best 239 vs Pakistan. Everything is going in his favor and the come back man scored more runs than any other Indian player in the calendar year. 

Former Indian skipper scored a century vs Australia in his last test series.

   

Time again turned his face from the Prince Of Kolkata. Its 2007 WC in West Indies and India was knocked out in the Group Stage. And as a result of it, he was again not selected in future series. It was 2008 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Ganguly was recalled for the tests but before the start of the series he made an announcement as it was going to be his last series. He scored a century in that series and made 85 in his last test. Though his last test inning ended with the score of 0 but this man has changed the intensity of Indian Cricket. There was tears all around. The man who changed the face of Indian Cricket will not wear the national jersey again. Many Captain will come and go in future but in reality the real captain of Indian Cricket was only Sourav Ganguly.  

Ganguly represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural Indian Premier League(IPL). He didn't achieve great success in IPL. After IPL he did commentary in ICC matches which is also loved by his fans. At present Ganguly is serving as the President of Indian Cricket. When the Ganguly-Chappell spat was on who on the earth ever thought, this man would be the ruler of Indian Cricket. This is all about the Prince of Kolkata. From his entry into the Indian Cricket to the President of BCCI, this man has been the motivation of many people across the country. No wonder if we see him the Chief Minister of Bengal in future. He's Sourav Ganguly, can't rule him out. Isn't...? 

Lets have a look at some of his records which itself says how big a cricketer he was for India :

• Highest individual score by an Indian in WC = 183 vs SL in 1999
• First Indian captain to win Test and ODI series in Pakistan.
• First cricketer on the planet to win 4 consecutive Man of the Match award.
• First cricketer to score 3 centuries in Champions Trophy.
• Highest individual score in the Champions Trophy Final = 117 vs NZ in 2000

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