Sourav Ganguly the captain that sowed the seeds of aggression in the Indian cricket team, is celebrating his 50th birthday. Currently helming the Indian cricket board as president the mercurial captain has been integral to India’s success as a cricket team and beyond.
Twitter was awash with birthday wishes for ‘Dada’ but before we look at them, let’s have a look at his contribution to Indian cricket.
Debuting for the Indian team on 11th January 1992, the Calcutta-born southpaw, soon became one of the important links for Men in blue. In an international career spanning 424 matches, the left-handed batter made sensational 18575 runs for the country. To make a mark in the Indian team which had Sachin Tendulkar in it is special in itself, but the ex-Indian captain did one better.
From 1997 to 2007, Ganguly scored more ODI runs than the God of cricket himself. In those 11 years, he made 11091 runs while Tendulkar amassed 10511 and that shows the talent that this man possessed. In 1999, he also held the record for most international runs in a calendar year (1767).
While many have come to know Virat Kohli as an aggressive player, it was Sourav Ganguly who transformed India’s image from a meek team to an out-and-out fighter. Ganguly waving his shirt from the Lord’s balcony in 2002 still send shivers down Indian cricket fans’ spine. Ganguly did that in response to Andrew Flintoff who did the same in Mumbai in the sixth ODI. This was Ganguly’s message to the world that the new India gave back with interest; a tit-for-tat approach that made team India a feared team across the cricketing world.
His aggression and confidence came in as a legacy to the current Indian team and many now walk in his footsteps and have the belief to challenge anyone in the world. The once-great batter now imparts his great knowledge and man management skill from the very top as Indian cricket board President and has seen through many positive changes to Indian cricket.
Let’s look at some tweets celebrating Sourav Ganguly’s 50th birthday.
Happy Birthday Dada! You’ve been a great friend, an impactful captain and a senior any youngster would want to learn from.
Wishing you good health and happiness on your special day ? lots of love and best wishes always @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/SPEIVIXJcA
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 8, 2022
2??nd most hundreds as India captain
3??rd most ODI runs for India
4??th most ODI hundreds for India
4??th most international runs for IndiaBCCI president Sourav Ganguly brings up his half-century today! pic.twitter.com/WCypMsGiDg
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 8, 2022
Dada hits another half-century ?
Wishing the legendary batsman and current BCCI President a very Happy Birthday ?@SGanguly99 | ?: PTI pic.twitter.com/b9seJEMu4v
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 8, 2022
Saviour and architect of Indian team
– #SouravGanguly#HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/yJWbWBAqkA— Shiva pRasad? (@shivainn) July 8, 2022
Happy Birthday to the Bengal Tiger, the Lord of off side Sourav Ganguly!! ????????????????@SGanguly99#SouravGanguly#HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/yxU8dZZMMs
— ????????? ? (@Satu_paiyan) July 7, 2022
Sourav Ganguly ?
MS Dhoni ?
Virat Kohli ?Who among these three, is your favourite captain?#SouravGanguly #India #MSDhoni #VIratKohli #Cricket pic.twitter.com/yHFQNt8KYU
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 7, 2022
The Man who shows a Dadagiri in cricket field…
A very Happy Birthday Dada??@SGanguly99#SouravGanguly #HBDSouravGanguly #HappyBirthdayDada #HBDDada pic.twitter.com/QSRYKWnsh2— Michael Scofield (@ScofieldReddy) July 8, 2022
First sign of aggressene in india cricket…. thanks to the Legend #SouravGanguly #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/gR36vncH4r
— Hiesnberg (@MALAYMU96793905) July 7, 2022
Birthday wishes to the man who made me fall into the love of cricket,among those guys who actually made impact in my life,he is all about aggression & that never die spirit,happy birthday my captain @SGanguly99 .#SouravGanguly #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/g23bF7kOHF
— U?????? (@UtkarshRatedR23) July 8, 2022
3rd fastest 10,000 ODI runs,Holds the record for the highest individual score in CWC for India,
Most sixes by an Indian LHB in ODIs,The man who transformed Indian cricket to greater heights,
Happy birthday to one of ??'s most successful captain,#SouravGanguly#HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/YwSD3BiRia— Nikita Malviya?? (@NikitaMalviya04) July 8, 2022
