Sourav Ganguly is arguably one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket, who has guided the team to the final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The legendary India batter is celebrating his 51st birthday on Saturday, July 8. The Kolkata-born cricketer currently serves as the Director of Cricket of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC).
Ganguly, who was appointed as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019 has remained in that position until 2022. He formerly served as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal and Chairman of the International Cricket Council’s Men’s Cricket Committee. Notably, he was a member of the Justice Mudgal Committee, which was established by the Supreme Court of India to investigate the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal’s investigations.
Ganguly, also known as Maharaja of Cricket, made his ODI debut in 1992, amassed 11363 runs from 311 matches, with 22 hundred and 72 fifties at a strike rate of 73.70, placing him ninth in the list for most runs scored in the 50-over format. He was the third batter to breach 10,000 runs in the 50-over format after Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam Ul Haq. In the 1999 ODI Cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka, he set the record for the highest score in an innings (183) by an Indian batter.
Ganguly made his Test debut against England in 1996 at Lord’s and has 7212 runs from 113 matches, including 16 tons and 35 fifties at a strike rate of 51.25. He became India’s most successful Test skipper during his tenure between 2000 and 2005, leading his team to victory 21 times. During his playing career, the Padma Shri awardee also featured in the Indian Premier League and the English County Championship.
Ganguly, popularly known as Dada, admired former England captain David Gower’s style of play and emulated it throughout his career, influencing many. Following an illustrious playing career, the Kolkata-born cricketer announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 and from all forms of cricket in 2012. As he celebrates his 51st birthday, members of the cricketing fraternity took to social media to extend their warm wishes.
Here is how the cricketing fraternity extended its wishes to Sourav Ganguly:
When you’re planning the next prank with dada without him knowing that he is the one who will actually be pranked 🤪 😂 Happy birthday #dadi! Loads of love always 🤗 ❤️ @SGanguly99 pic.twitter.com/fCdF8DV6pt
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 8, 2023
➼ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔
➼ 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒖𝒑
➼ 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕
➼ 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆!
Sourav Ganguly is all of us 🫂
Wishing you a Super Birthday DADA! #WhistlePodu🦁💛 @SGanguly99
📸:@BCCI pic.twitter.com/R1BaFGFtkY
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 8, 2023
You taught a nation with a billion dreams to dare. 👊
Happy birthday to cricket’s OG Dada, @SGanguly99 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/D7ilqvBPbg
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) July 8, 2023
𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘫𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘮! 🙌
Happy birthday, Prince of Kolkata! 🙏#HappyBirthdayDada #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/ZrkKd0l8aJ
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 8, 2023
This Jersey, this era will always be special for Indian cricket fans. Happy Birthday to the man who led India to new heights during this era 🎂 Wish you a wonderful year full of happiness and good health Dada @SGanguly99 🤗 pic.twitter.com/zepk1tnUvP
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 8, 2023
Birthday greetings to the one and only @SGanguly99!! 🤗 Have a fantastic year ahead Dada!! Love always! pic.twitter.com/u1rlpHOuFu
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) July 8, 2023