Sourav Ganguly

Personal Information and Other Details

• Original Name: Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
• Other Name: The God of the Off Side, Bengal Tiger, Maharaja, Dada, The Warrior Prince
• Profession: Former Indian Cricket
• Born: 8 July 1972
• Place of Birth: Behala, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
• Age: 49 Years
• Mother Name: Nirupa Ganguly
• Father Name: Chandidas Ganguly
• Brother Name: Snehasish Ganguly (Former Cricket Player)
• School: St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata, West Bengal
• Zodiac Sign: Cancer
• Religion: Hindu
• Marital Status: Married
• Wife: Dona Ganguly (Odissi Dancer)
• Children: Sana Ganguly
• Hobbies: Playing Soccer, Listening to Music
• Batting Style: Left-Handed
• Role: Batsman
• Bowling: Right Arm Medium
• Website: souravganguly.co.in
• Total Worth: $55.5 million

Physical Measurement and Statistics

• Height:
  In Feet Inches- 5'11''
  In Centimeters- 180 cm
• Hair Colour: Black
• Eye Colour: Black

Favourite Things of Sourav Ganguly

• Favourite Food: Chingri, Alu Posto, Macher Malaikari, Biriyani
• Favourite Cricketer: David Gower

Starting Cricket Career and Other Achievements

His elder brother Snehasish introduced the world of Cricket to Ganguly. Ganguly used to play Cricket for the state teams and School teams. Having played in domestic Cricket, Duleep trophies, and the Ranji, he received a huge break playing for the team India on the tour of England. He hit 131 and cemented his spot in the Indian Cricket team.

His fortunes were bolstered when he performed in a series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia and registered the Man of the Match award in his name. Ganguly and Rahul Dravid combined partnership had helped India put 318 runs on the board in the World Cup tournament. It remains one of the highest overall partner-ship scores in the World Cup Tournament history. Sachin Tendulkar had to resign from captainship of the Indian Cricketing team due to allegations of fixing other players and deteriorating health conditions. Subsequently, Sourav was asked to take over as the Indian Cricket Team captain.

Soon, he was subjected to heavy criticism as he pulled off his t-shirt in the Final of the 2002 Natwest Series. Under his leadership, India reached the final in the 2002 World Cup, where India faced defeat from Australia. Due to his dismal individual performance, he was not able to qualify for the next tournament. He was brought back into the National team in 2006, and an exhilarating batting performance was displayed.

His captainship was taken back due to controversy about his coach, Greg Chappel. However, he was selected for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Cricketing experts call him one of the most successful captains in modern Cricketing history. Ganguly has been made the brand ambassador of the I-League side of Mohammedan Sporting. He owns Atletico de Kolkata, a franchise of the Indian Super League, along with Sanjiv Goenka, Harshavardahana Neotia, and Utsav Parekh. His team won the inaugural season in 2014.

He was given Padma Shri in 2004, and Padma Shri is one of India's highest civilian awards. The government of Bengal awarded him with Banga Bibhushan Award on 20 May 2013. Supreme Court of India has appointed him to the Justice Mudgal Committee probe panel for the IPL betting scandals and spot-fixing investigations.

Career

After being successful in the Ranji Trophy (1990-91), Ganguly made 3 runs in his ODI debut in the India v West Indies match in 1992. Ganguly was exited from the team due to his arrogant and rude behaviour, and his code of conduct was questionable.

He performed very well in the Ranji trophy, and after observing his impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy, Selectors called him back into the Indian team squad.

He just participated in 1 match and was dropped from the team for the first test, but when Navjot Singh Sidhu left the team after accusing Mohammed Azharuddin of ill-treatment. Ganguly made his debut in the Test match against England. He played against England and Rahul Dravid in the second test of the three-match series at Lord Cricket Stadium ground. Ganguly hit a ton in the test, but England won the First Test of the three-match series. India did not bat as the match ended with a draw. He, along with Sachin Tendulkar, put 255 runs on the scoreboard. At that time, this was the highest partnership total put by India against any foreign team and on a foreign wicket.

World Cup 1999 and Openings in the One-Day International

He ran away with childhood crush Dana Roy after coming from the England tour. It had caused a huge uproar in the bride and groom's families. Their families were sworn enemies, but they had to compromise and reconcile and held formal wedding functions.

Ganguly was present in the Indian team squad, which had participated in the 1999 World Cup in England. He hit 183 runs from 158 balls against Sri Lanka, including seven sixes and 17 fours.

Cricketing Wonders of the Sourav Ganguly

• Ganguly is the fastest batsman to hit 9000 runs in ODI.
• He is placed among only five cricketers with 100 catches and 10000 runs in ODI.
• Ganguly is the only player who has won four consecutive Man of the Match awards in One day International.
• Having scored 11363 runs in his cricketing career, he is now the world's 8th highest-run scorer and India's second in One Day International cricketing history.
• He is regarded as one of the most successful Indian Captains overseas, who have won 11 out of 28 matches.
• He has hit 183 runs in a World Cup match, the highest run hit by an Indian Batsman in the World Cup.
• An exceptional feat of Sourav Ganguly: Sourav had scored two consecutive centuries in the two innings (1996 tour of England). It was his debut test.

Taking Over as Captainship of the Indian Team

After the betting scandal, Tendulkar resigned from the captainship. Ganguly took over as the Captain of the Indian team squad. Under his leadership, India won:

• A series win against South Africa five-day one-day international series.
• India reached in finals of the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy
• India reached the finals of the World Cup 2003 but lost to Australia.

Cricketing Career

• ODI Debut (cap 84): 11 January 1992 v West Indies
• Last ODI: 15 November 2007 v Pakistan
• Test Debut (cap 206): 20 June 1996 v England
• Last Test: 6 November 2008 v Australia
• National Side: India (1992- 2008)

Domestic Cricket Details

• 2011-2012: Pune Warriors India
• 2008- 2010: Kolkata Knight Riders
• 2006: Northamptonshire
• 2005: Giamorgan
• 2000: Lancashire
• 1990-2010: Bengal

Position Held

• Chairman of the ICC Men's Cricket Committee (17 November 2021)
• President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (2015-2019)
• President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (23 October 2019- Present)

Cricketing Statistics

Personal and Early Life of the Sourav Ganguly

His parents had a flourishing print business and belonged to an influential class. He had a luxurious life, so he was given another name, "Maharaja". His father departed from the world at age 73 on 21 February 2013 after a prolonged illness.

Ganguly was deeply attracted to the football game, and studies came in between the sport. Nirupa was reluctant that Ganguly should opt for Cricket as his career, but his Snehasish had already become a cricketer in the Bengal Cricket team. Snehasish came to rescue Sourav and asked his father to get him admitted to the Cricket Coaching camp. At that, Ganguly was in class 10. He learnt to bat left-handed despite being right-handed so that he could use the cricketing equipment.

He displayed some traits of a promising batsman when he was enrolled in the Cricketing academy. A concrete wicket and an indoor multi-gym were constructed at his home so that Sourav and Snehasish could practice comfortably. Ganguly watched many cricket videos of David Gower to learn the game perfectly. Under 15, he hit a ton against Orissa, which rewarded him as the captain of his school cricketing team, but his teammates complained about his arrogant attitude. He refused to play at number 12, work water-boy, and convey messages to other players. He considered these tasks below his social status. He was allowed to debut in the First-Class Cricket debut for Bengal in 1989; his brother was rejected from the team the same year.

Controversies Related to Ganguly

• Ganguly was involved in an argument with Greg Chappel, then coach of the Indian Cricket Team and, as a result, removed as Captain from the team.
• He was severely reprimanded for being arrogant, and critics point to him as "Princely Behavior".
• He used to arrive late for the toss during India- Australia series in 2001.
• For showing his disapproval in the match, Ganguly was barred for three matches in his career.
• He came under immense fire from the critics for waving off his shirt in the Netwest series.

Health Conditions of the Sourav Ganguly

Sourav has been found with three-blocked coronary arteries triggering mild cardiac arrest. Sourav reported chest pain while exercising, and he went to primary angioplasty to treat the one blockage when he was diagnosed with this disease.

Less Known Facts of Sourav Ganguly

• Does he consume alcohol? Yes
• Does he drink alcohol? Yes
• Geoffrey Boycott had given the nickname "The Prince of Calcutta."
• "Sourav Housing Complex" is an apartment in Kolkata named after him.
• "Sourav's-The Food Pavillion", a restaurant in Kolkata opened by Sourav Ganguly after seeing Sachin Tendulkar.