Latest news with #Ex-Indian
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Boldly Changed Indian Cricket Forever": Yuvraj Singh Leads Birthday Wishes For Sourav Ganguly
Ex-Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif and Sourav Ganguly took to social media to extend their birthday wishes to legendary former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly, who took Indian cricket to new heights and instilled a fearless, to-win at-all-costs mentality in the Indian cricket team following the match-fixing saga in the early 2000s, turned 53 on Tuesday. Yuvraj, who turned into a world-class talent under the leadership of Ganguly, posted an Instagram story for the team's 'dada', captioned, "Wishing a very happy birthday to the dada of Indian cricket who always backed his boys, took on the world and boldly changed Indian cricket forever. Lots of Love always." Kaif, another 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. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who debuted during the final years of Ganguly as an international cricketer back in 2005, also posted, "Wishing a very Happy Birthday to @SGanguly99 Dada! Your leadership changed the face of Indian cricket & inspired generations to believe in themselves. Thank you for always showing us how to lead with courage and heart. Have a fantastic year ahead, Dada! #HappyBirthdayDada." 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.
India Gazette
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
"Dada of Indian cricket who backed his boys": Indian cricket stars wish Ganguly on 53rd birthday
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Ex-Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif and Sourav Ganguly took to social media to extend their birthday wishes to legendary former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly, who took Indian cricket to new heights and instilled a fearless, to-win at-all-costs mentality in the Indian cricket team following the match-fixing saga in the early 2000s, turned 53 on Tuesday. Yuvraj, who turned into a world-class talent under the leadership of Ganguly, posted an Instagram story for the team's 'dada', captioned, 'Wishing a very happy birthday to the dada of Indian cricket who always backed his boys, took on the world and boldly changed Indian cricket forever. Lots of Love always.' Kaif, another 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. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who debuted during the final years of Ganguly as an international cricketer back in 2005, also posted, 'Wishing a very Happy Birthday to @SGanguly99 Dada! Your leadership changed the face of Indian cricket & inspired generations to believe in themselves. Thank you for always showing us how to lead with courage and heart. Have a fantastic year ahead, Dada! #HappyBirthdayDada.' 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)
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"KL Rahul's calm, Rishabh Pant's flair...": Sachin hails centuries by star batters at Leeds
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Monday hailed centuries by KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant during the first Test against England, which has put India in a strong position, and highlighted KL's 'calm' and Pant's 'flair'. KL and Pant's classy knocks provided India a lead of over 300 runs at the end of the second session of day four in the Leeds Test. Taking to X, Sachin wrote, '@klrahul's calm. @RishabhPant17's flair. Two special knocks. Two proud moments.' Ex-Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also called KL India's 'Sankatmochan' ('remover of obstacles') and also hailed Pant's aggressive knock, which was an innings of two halves, with the journey till the half-century being marked by caution. 'Sankatmochan KL Rahul,' posted Irfan on X. In another tweet he posted, 'Back-to-back s from Rishabh Pant! One innings, two halves. Two characters, one man -- that's Rishabh Pant for you. Brilliant stuff.' Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar also highlighted cricket's popularity in India and pointed out that 'What after fab 4 (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root), or what after Virat is an irrational fear'. 'Cricket is a by far the no 1 sport in India. There is tremendous incentive for young kids to take up cricket. Hence 'What after fab 4, or what after Virat' is an irrational fear. #jaiswal #Gill #KLRahul #Pant,' posted Manjrekar. Coming to the match, at Tea, India were 298/4, with KL Rahul (120*) and Karun Nair (4*) unbeaten. Pant scored 118 runs in the second innings, his second ton in the match, and consolidated the innings with a crucial 195-run partnership with KL Rahul. India started the second session at 153/3 at Leeds, with Pant (31*) and KL (72*) unbeaten. The duo launched a brilliant counter-attack against English bowling, taking them to their respective centuries, with Pant dismissed for 118 in 140 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes. India ended the first session at 153/3, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant (31*) and KL Rahul (72*) unbeaten. Despite Carse striking early, removing Shubman for just eight and sinking India to 92/3, Team India managed to give themselves a solid platform to go all guns out blazing for the remainder of the match, but not without giving England some chances. The final session on day three was cut short due to rain .Rahul was joined by skipper Shubman Gill, who was unbeaten on 6*. India ended at 90/2. England started the second session at 327/5, with Harry Brook (57*) and Jamie Smith (29*) unbeaten. Brook continued his counter-attack, while Smith (40 in 52 balls, with five fours and a six), Chris Woakes (38 in 55 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Brydon Cwefarse (22 in 23 balls, with four boundaries) also piled up useful scores. Brook missed out on his century, scoring 99 in 112 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, with Prasidh Krishna getting him caught by Shardul Thakur at deep backwards square leg. A 55-run stand between Woakes and Carse took England past the 400-run mark, and they threatened to surpass India's first innings total before Jasprit Bumrah came in clutch. Bumrah (5/83) and Prasidh Krishna (3/128) were the top bowlers as England was bowled out for 465. England kickstarted the first session of the day at 209/3, with Ollie Pope (100*) and Brook (0*) unbeaten. While Prasidh struck early to remove Pope (106 in 137 balls, with 14 fours), Brook stitched a 51-run stand with skipper Ben Stokes (20 in 52 balls) and a 73-run stand with Smith, taking England well beyond the 300-run mark at session end. A century by Ollie Pope (106 in 137 balls, with 14 fours) and fifty from Ben Duckett (62 in 94 balls, with nine fours) on day two served as valuable contributions as well. Brief Scores: England: 465 (OIlie Pope 106, Harry Brook 99, Jasprit Bumrah 5/83) vs India: 471 and 298/4: KL Rahul 120*, Rishabh Pant 118, Brydon Carse 2/62). (ANI)
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'KL Rahul's calm, Rishabh Pant's flair': Sachin Tendulkar hails duo's 'special' knocks at Headingley
Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Monday lauded the centuries by KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the first Test against England, praising KL's 'calm' and Pant's 'flair' as key elements of India's dominant position in the match. The duo's elegant knocks helped India stretch their lead to over 300 runs by the end of the second session on Day 4 of the Leeds Test. Taking to X, Sachin wrote, "@klrahul's calm. @RishabhPant17's flair. Two special knocks. Two proud moments." Ex-Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also called KL India's "Sankatmochan" ("remover of obstacles") and also hailed Pant's aggressive knock, which was an innings of two halves, with the journey till the half-century being marked by caution. "Sankatmochan KL Rahul," posted Irfan on X. In another tweet he posted, "Back-to-back s from Rishabh Pant! One innings, two halves. Two characters, one man -- that's Rishabh Pant for you. Brilliant stuff." Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar also highlighted cricket's popularity in India and pointed out that "What after fab 4 (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root), or what after Virat is an irrational fear". "Cricket is a by far the no 1 sport in India. There is tremendous incentive for young kids to take up cricket. Hence 'What after fab 4, or what after Virat' is an irrational fear. #jaiswal #Gill #KLRahul #Pant," posted Manjrekar. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
