Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly has been one of the most successful captains for India and is known for his leadership qualities. The left-handed batsman made his first Test appearance for India in 1996 against England at Lord's and scored a brilliant hundred during the course.

Sourav Ganguly Indian cricketer

Personal information

Full name Sourav Chandidas Ganguly

Born 8 July 1972 (age 44)

Behala, Calcutta (presently Kolkata), West Bengal, India

Nickname Dada,Prince of Calcutta,God of the Off Side

Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)

Batting style Left-handed

Bowling style Right arm medium

Role Batsman

Part-time all-rounder

Relations Snehasish Ganguly (brother)

Dona Roy (wife)

International information

National side India

Test debut (cap 206) 20 June 1996 v England

Last Test 6 November 2008 v Australia

ODI debut (cap 84) 11 January 1992 v West Indies

Last ODI 15 November 2007 v Pakistan

ODI shirt no. 99, 1, 24, 21

Domestic team information

Years Team

1990–2010 Bengal

2000 Lancashire

2005 Glamorgan

2006 Northamptonshire

2008–10 Kolkata Knight Riders

2011–2012 Pune Warriors India

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly turned 45 on Saturday. On the joyous occasion wishes poured in for The ‘Prince of Kolkata’ from all parts of the country. Social media too buzzing with his birthday wishes. Ganguly has been one of the most successful captains for India and is known for his leadership qualities. The left-handed batsman made his first Test appearance for India in 1996 against England at Lord’s and scored a brilliant hundred in that match. From thereon there was no looking back.

While he stamped authority with his batting, Sourav also played a vital role in the resurgence of Indian cricket. Under him, India registered a berth in the final of Knockout tournament in 2000 and also went into the finals of the 2003 World Cup. Though they lost the final to New Zealand but his leadership skills impressed everybody.  In 2002 Ganguly led his side to a Champions Trophy win.  In 2003 edition of the ICC World Cup Ganguly and his side were runners-up. Meanwhile, here is a look at some of the wishes and what his colleagues and others have to say on his special day:

When he's not busy discussing the Supreme Court-mandated Justice RM Lodha Committee reforms with the general body of the Indian cricket board, he's part of a committee appointed by that general body studying the very reforms. When he's not busy attending the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council meetings, he's busy running the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). When he's not busy chairing the BCCI's technical committee, he's busy selecting the Indian national team's new coach. Say hello to the omnipresent Sourav Ganguly - the busiest man in Indian cricket today.

The list doesn't end. When he's not busy doing any of the above, Ganguly will be found doing commentary for a broadcaster or presenting expert views on television or attending the MCC World Cricket Committee meeting.

"I can also apply for the position of India's coach provided I'm not an administrator," Ganguly recently told the media, when asked to comment on former Team India director Ravi Shastri sending his application for the role.

Less is more certainly doesn't apply to this Indian cricket great who's taken to the administration of the game like the fish takes to water.

In another world, at a different hour, this kind of multi-tasking would've been seen as a matter of accomplishment in Indian cricket administration. But in the prevailing times, the moniker doesn't stick. "We understand that to be a major concern and roles need to be more definitive, largely because a pattern has to be set in the larger context. There's absolutely no disrespect towards Sourav, given his vast experience as a cricketer and a leader in the game. It's the syndrome that we're talking about," two individuals keenly involved with affairs of Indian cricket administration over the last few months told TOI.

Ganguly's former teammate Rahul Dravid is a case in point. In the middle of the hullabaloo over whether Dravid could've continued in the role of India's junior national coach while being a mentor to an IPL franchise, it was he who took the first step in sorting out the confusion. Dravid wrote a letter to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) seeking clarity on his role and, in turn, provided the solution.