Fans ecstatic as former India captain Sourav Ganguly hits '50': 'A great player, a superb leader'

A DAY after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of India’s most successful captains, turned 41, it was time for another equally successful one to celebrate his birthday. On Friday, 8, former India captain and current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly reached a milestone by completing 50 years. The cricketer-turned-administrator spent the special occasion with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and other BCCI officials in England where the national team is currently located for white-ball cricket.

Ganguly, who took over the Indian captaincy from Tendulkar at a difficult time in early 2000, went on to scale a number of peaks in the five years that he led the national team, both as a captain and batter. He drew Test series in Australia and England and even won one in Pakistan. He also took India to the final of the 2003 World Cup in the 50-over format but lost to Australia in the title clash.

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The left-handed batter made his India debut in Australia in 1992 but was then dropped. He was accused of being arrogant on the ground. However, he overcame the hurdles four years later when he made a grand comeback to the Indian side by slamming a hundred at Lord’s. Ganguly did not look back from there. As a captain, Ganguly is credited for being a leader who led from the front particularly when India played overseas and improved their records in alien conditions. He is also credited for building a team which went on to serve Indian cricket for years.

Reactions came thick and fast from all quarters -- including former cricketers, politicians, journalists and others on the occasion of Ganguly, who took over as the BCCI chief in 2019, completing yet another half-century.