Here's how Shikhar Dhawan wished Sourav Ganguly on his birthday
On such a special occasion, he received several heartfelt birthday wishes from the members of the Indian cricket fraternity. Like many, Shikhar Dhawan also made sure to extend his best wishes to Dada.
Taking to Instagram, Shikhar dug out an old picture with Ganguly and wrote, 'Happy birthday @souravganguly Dad! Wishing you lots of happiness and good health always.'
Mohammad Kaif, batter who represented India in 13 Tests and 125 ODIs and was a crucial asset to the Dada's 'class of early 2000s', called Ganguly a player who had 'a rare eye for talent and the courage to back it'.
'Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the man who had a rare eye for talent and the courage to back it Thank you Dada for changing Indian cricket forever So loved, so respected yet so humble,' he posted on his official X handle.
Ganguly was noted for his distinct leadership style throughout his time on the pitch.
In the summer of 1996, he made his Test debut against England, earning the nickname 'Dada'. He quickly made headlines after scoring a century in his first Test at Lord's, and the 'Prince of Kolkata' then went on to smash a ton in the second Test, becoming the third batter in history to make a hundred in each of his first two innings.
In 2000, the Team India camp got trapped in a match-fixing scandal. Ganguly was then appointed the captain of the side, where he started grooming new talent. Ganguly led India to the finals of the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy for the first time.
Another Team India milestone came in 2001 when the Ganguly-led side defeated Australia 2-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Australian team, captained by Steve Waugh, challenged India to follow on in the series, but VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid staged one of the greatest comebacks in Indian cricket history.
The former India captain's most memorable moment was definitely when he stripped off his shirt on the Lord's balcony when India famously beat England from the jaws of defeat in the Natwest Trophy finals in 2002.
Ganguly also led India to the World Cup finals in 2003, where they narrowly lost to Australia in the championship game. In 2004, he also oversaw an ODI and Test series in Pakistan. The Test series triumph was India's first on Pakistani soil.
'Dada' also had a memorable spat with then-coach Greg Chappell in 2005-6, after the 'Prince of Kolkata' was left out of the Team India squad. Ganguly, on the other hand, worked his way back into the team and recorded a fifty-plus score in Johannesburg.
He last played a Test against Australia in Nagpur in 2008. He played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until 2012, when he retired from domestic cricket. 'Dada' played 113 Tests and 311 One-Day Internationals for India. In his international career, the left-handed batsman amassed 18,575 runs across all formats.
In the long format, Sourav played 113 matches. He scored 7,212 runs at an average of 42.17. He smashed 16 centuries and 35 half-centuries in 188 innings, with the best score of 239. He is the seventh-highest run-scorer for India in Test cricket.
He smashed a century on his Test debut against England at the Lord's in 1996. As a captain, he led India in 49 matches. Out of this, India won 21 matches, lost 13 and drew 15 matches. With a win percentage of 42.85, he is one of the most successful captains for India.
Ganguly has also represented India in 311 ODIs, scoring 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02. He has scored 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries in 300 innings, with the best score of 183. He is India's third-highest ODI run-getter.
He led India to 147 ODI matches, winning 76, losing 66 and five failed to produce results. In ODIs, he had a win percentage of 51.70. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
"LeBron is GOAT" - Caitlin Clark has jumped into Michael Jordan vs LeBron James debate with her bold claims
"LeBron is GOAT" - Caitlin Clark has jumped into Michael Jordan vs LeBron James debate with her bold claims (Image Source: Getty Images) One of the brightest new stars in basketball just made her pick in the ongoing GOAT debate - and it's creating buzz. WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark didn't hold back when asked about her biggest influence. In a heartfelt interview, she named LeBron James as her all-time favorite player. Her words, filled with admiration, sparked strong reactions from fans and players alike, adding fresh fuel to a classic sports debate. Caitlin Clark says LeBron James is her favorite player On May 19, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark made headlines during an interview when she called NBA icon LeBron James 'the GOAT to me' and stated he is her 'favorite player of all time'. The moment came after James publicly supported her debut season via Instagram, celebrating her triple-double performance. Clark said meeting her idol was surreal: 'That's one of my idols. LeBron is the GOAT to me,' she told reporters. 'He's my favorite player of all time.' This praise echoed a growing friendship - James has often defended Clark on social media, calling out critics and acknowledging her impact on the WNBA. LeBron James' backing boosts Caitlin Clark's rising star and sports debate LeBron's shoutout came after Clark returned from a quad injury on June 15. She scored 32 points, had nine assists and eight rebounds to lead the Fever to a big win. Alongside that performance, James posted, 'The CC EFFECT!! WELCOME BACK! You were missed!'. Clark admitted she thought the post might be fake, then laughed when she realized it was real. Her statement adds fresh fuel to the age‑old GOAT discussion in basketball, now voiced by a star from the WNBA's new class. This sparks fresh debates comparing current greats like LeBron to icons like Michael Jordan . Also Read: Stephen Curry's summer swing hits a high note with Redbone Nokia and Good News playlist Clark, just 23 and in her rookie season, already holds the fastest-to-850-points record and led a sold-out audience for the Fever. Her voice adds legitimacy and bridges women's and men's pro basketball. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
LeBron James tried golf and the internet is shocked by what his swing looks like next to Charles Barkley's
LeBron James' nascent golf swing is drawing unflattering comparisons to Charles Barkley's notoriously awkward form. After James shared a video of his stiff, arm-heavy swing, the internet quickly erupted with jokes and critiques. While it's only Day 2 of his golf journey, some are already suggesting James' swing might rival Barkley's infamous struggles on the green. It was only Day 2 of LeBron James' golf journey, but the internet wasn't feeling generous. After sharing a stiff, arm-heavy swing on July 4, fans instantly compared him to none other than Charles Barkley—golf's most legendary disaster. The clip went viral, the jokes rolled in, and suddenly LeBron's greatness on the court meant nothing on the green. Could he really be worse than Chuck? That's what everyone's asking. LeBron James' day 2 golf debut sparks instant Charles Barkley comparisons LeBron shared his most recent swing on July 4, describing golf as "a mind f**k to say the least." The video shows a rigid, arm-dominant motion with very little wrist movement, leading fans to compare it to Charles Barkley's well-known mid-swing hitch. One social media post even straightforwardly remarked that the swing 'draws comparisons to NBA legend Charles Barkley's famously awkward form'. LeBron James tried golf and the internet is shocked by what his swing looks like next to Charles Barkley's (Image Source: Instagram) Charles Barkley kicked off his golf journey in the early 1990s with a lot of promise—he had a single-digit handicap and often shot below 80. However, after he began taking numerous lessons, his swing fell apart in the mid-90s, spiraling from sub-80 rounds to over 100 strokes. His swing became a spectacle of awkward pauses and spasms. It got so infamous that even Tiger Woods made fun of it, and coaches like Hank Haney tried to fix it on camera in The Haney Project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 7 All-Inclusive Destinations That Accept Credit Card Rewards Liseer Learn More Undo At 40, LeBron is still one of the top basketball players, but golf is a whole different challenge. In his Instagram post, he confessed it was only Day 2 and hinted that getting the hang of golf would be a lengthy and humbling journey. Even though he produced a good drive distance, reviewers pointed out that his swing was too stiff, driven by his arms, and didn't have the smooth wrist action needed—making it a recipe for awkward moments and memes. The internet jumped right in. While it's widely accepted that Barkley is the cringe king of golf swings, a lot of folks joked that LeBron's form "might actually be worse." One poll showed that people rated LeBron's swing as "Better than Barkley's"—but just barely. Comments like "That swing is worse than anything Barkley ever did" are coming in hot. Also Read: 'Those two guys work' — Brian Scalabrine backs LeBron James and Luka Doncic combo and shrugs off Lakers drama Charles Barkley might still be known for having the most awkward golf swing, but LeBron James is definitely stepping up to the plate. It's just the beginning (we're only on Day 2), and with LeBron's youth and incredible athletic skills, there's a lot to be hopeful about. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'I just coloured my beard two days ago... ': Virat Kohli breaks silence on Test retirement
India's Virat Kohli (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File) in London: Many prominent current and former cricketers assembled under one roof for the gala dinner hosted by Yuvraj Singh to raise funds for his YouWeCan Foundation. The entire Indian cricket team, including the support staff led by Gautam Gambhir , was in attendance and the star-studded gathering included the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Brian Lara and Ashish Nehra. Team India stayed for a little over an hour and participated in some fun activities before leaving the plush hotel in the heart of the city. Just when everyone was well settled for the dinner, and waiting for the other activities to begin, the giant screen flashed a familiar face as former India Test captain Virat Kohli was seen chatting with his friend Kevin Pietersen while having a bite. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Next up was a candid chat hosted by Gaurav Kapoor and it featured former India head coach Ravi Shastri , cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle and Darren Gough. The initial segment didn't feature Kohli on the stage but after insistence from Gaurav, he made his way up and joined the rest of the pack. A trademark meet-and-greet with Chris Gayle later, he gave a rare reaction on Test retirement when Gaurav said that everyone misses him on the field. "I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days," says Kohli. How Jasprit Bumrah is preparing for Lord's Test - batting, bowling and lot of jokes! He had his former coach Shastri by his side and the two lavished praise on each other for the support during their time together with the Indian cricket team. Kohli spoke at length about his bond with the former India cricketer and how it helped him become the Test cricketer he did, and achieve what he did for the country. "Honestly, if I wasn't working with him... what happened in Test cricket wouldn't have been possible. The clarity which we had together is very hard to find. It's everything for cricketers to grow in their careers. Even he hadn't backed me the way he did... those press conferences where he took the bullets from the front line. Things would have been different and I always have respect and regard for him, for being a massive part of my cricketing journey," says Kohli. Poll Should Virat Kohli consider returning to Test cricket? Yes, he should No, he should focus on ODI/T20 Depends on his fitness As a youngster in the dressing room, Kohli spent a lot of time with Yuvraj and the two shared a very good bond - both on and off the field. The 36-year-old, who is in London for a lot of time these days, still remembers the first meeting between the two, his journey during the 2011 World Cup, the battle with cancer and that return to India colours. "We shared a very good bond both on and off the field. I met him for the first time during a North Zone tournament in Bangalore. When I started playing for India, him, bhajju pa and Zaheer Khan took me under their wings. Really helped me grow as a player, made me comfortable in the dressing room. Lot of fun times off the field and made me aware of the lifestyle of getting to the top. These are the bonds I would cherish for the rest of my life. Watching him in the World Cup was very special and what we got to know after that was a shock. Being so close to him... we had no idea. Then his battle with cancer and again the champion that he is. .. coming on top and making a comeback to the team when I was leading the team. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? "I clearly remember we played a game against England in Cuttack. There was a 2017 series we played at home and top-order got out early and Yuvi pa got 150 I think and MS scored 110 or something. I still remember telling KL or someone that this is like childhood days watching on big tv... I have a lot of love and respect for him. It's a pleasure being here and I won't do it for any other person but him," says Kohli. The conversations continued, the drinks continued to be poured into glasses of different shapes and sizes and the money continued to be raised for the noble cause. Amid all the noise, Kohli quietly left the stage, met his friend Gaurav and made his way to the hotel lobby with very minimal security. The area was briefly cordoned off but the moment he was out of the building, normalcy resumed. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
