SOURAV GANGULY: THE CAPTAIN WHO NURTURED FUTURE CHAMPIONS

He was often referred to as ‘God of the offside’ for his ability to pierce the field. However, Ganguly’s greatest contribution to Indian cricket was as captain. He led the team out of turbulent times in the wake of the match-fixing scandal, and build a side that future captains would turn...

- RENIN WILBEN

Former India captain and current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly recently turned 48. As of now, Ganguly is engrossed in trying to pave a way for IPL 2020 to somehow go ahead despite the challenges posed by Coronavirus. A batsman with a silken touch, Ganguly scored over 7,000 runs in Tests and more than 11,000 in one-dayers. He was often referred to as ‘God of the offside’ for his ability to pierce the field. However, Ganguly’s greatest contribution to Indian cricket was as captain. He led the team out of turbulent times in the wake of the match-fixing scandal, and build a side that future captains would turn into world-beaters.

LAYING THE BUILDING BLOCKS

India did not win a World Cup or the ICC Champions Trophy with Ganguly as a leader. They did come excruciatingly close -- losing the Champions Trophy final in 2000 to New Zealand and going down to Australia in the 2003 World Cup final. Yet, Ganguly had a significant role to play in India transforming into the champion side they have gone on to become in the last decade. He did all the groundwork and laid a solid foundation for the leaders to follow.