Full Name: Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
Nickname: Dada, Prince of Calcutta, Bengal Tiger
Date of Birth: July 8, 1972
Age: 52 years (as of 2025)
Place of Birth: Behala, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Profession: Former Cricketer, Cricket Administrator, Commentator
Batting Style: Left-handed
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
Role in Team: Top-order Batter, Captain
Net Worth: Estimated ₹400–500 crore INR (approx. $50–60 million USD)
Early Life and Background
In Behala, Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly was born into a wealthy family. Cricket played a significant role in their way of life, and his father, Chandidas Ganguly, was a prosperous businessman. Sourav, who is well-known for being from an affluent family, first prioritised football and academics before turning to cricket.
Early in the 1990s, he gained a spot on the Bengal Ranji squad by putting in a lot of training under famous instructors. He was one of Bengal’s best cricket prospects because of his skilful left-handed batting and innate leadership early in his domestic career.
Domestic Career
After making his First-Class debut for Bengal in 1989–1990, Ganguly quickly made an impression with his cool-headed style of play and composed manner. Although his initial stay in 1992 was brief, his domestic consistency gained him a spot in the Indian squad.
He returned to domestic cricket stronger after honing his skills and attitude, and his outstanding performances in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy garnered media attention.
His career took a significant turn in 1996 when he was called up to the national squad due to his success in domestic cricket, which was paired with maturity and consistency.
International Career
In 1996, Sourav Ganguly made a spectacular return to the Indian team by scoring a century on his Test debut at Lord’s and another century at Trent Bridge.
Career Highlights:
- He was one of India’s top run scorers with 11,363 runs in ODIs.
- played 113 Test matches, amassing 16 hundreds and more than 7,000 runs.
- He captained India at a crucial period of reconstruction from 2000 to 2005 and was well-known for his tough leadership and winning mindset.
- Under his direction, India defeated cricketing superpowers at home, advanced to the 2003 World Cup final, and won historic Test series overseas, particularly in Australia and Pakistan.
- served during the renowned Ganguly-Dravid-Sachin-Laxman-Sehwag period, which influenced contemporary Indian cricket.
Due to a falling out with coach Greg Chappell, he was sacked in 2005. However, he made a strong comeback and finished his career on a high note in 2008 by playing well in his last series against Australia.
IPL & Post-Retirement Career
Ganguly played for Pune Warriors India after captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the first IPL seasons. Even though his time in the IPL wasn’t as significant as his time abroad, he contributed leadership and expertise.
Ganguly moved smoothly into positions after retirement, including:
- Analyst and pundit on cricket
- President of the Bengal Cricket Association (CAB)
- President of the BCCI (2019–2022): in charge of managing Indian cricket during a crucial time.
He made significant choices as president of the BCCI, including as starting domestic changes and overseeing cricket during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Playing Style
Known for his aggressive stroke play, particularly through the off-side, Sourav Ganguly was an elegant left-handed hitter who was dubbed the “God of the Off Side.” He was deadly against spinners and a master of placement and timing.
Even though he only bowled sometimes, he frequently made contributions with his medium-pacing right arm.
Ganguly’s leadership style and attitude were more impressive than his technical prowess. He supported youthful talent without fear, never backs down from a conflict on or off the pitch, and gave the Indian squad courage and self-belief.
Personal Life
Dona Ganguly, a skilled Odissi dancer, is married to Sourav Ganguly. Before being welcomed by both families, the two, who had been friends since childhood, eloped. Sana Ganguly is a daughter of the couple.
Ganguly has always cherished privacy in personal affairs, even in the face of his stardom. He is renowned for being disciplined, grounded, and incredibly focused on his family. Sana, his daughter, is pursuing education and the arts and occasionally appears in public.
Dada is a big fan of Diego Maradona and spends his free time cooking, watching football, and listening to music. In addition, he has a sumptuous home in Kolkata and a number of prosperous commercial endeavours, such as commentary and endorsement deals.
His autobiography “A Century is Not Enough” describes his challenges, achievements, and philosophy on and off the pitch.
Legacy and Impact
The impact of Sourav Ganguly on Indian cricket is enormous. He is recognised for:
- Indian cricket is evolving, with the team becoming more aggressive and courageous.
- supporting up-and-coming greats like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and MS Dhoni.
- winning overseas and challenging global domination, which were uncommon before to his leadership reign.
- establishing the reputation of Team India as tough, capable, and goal-oriented.
His impact on Indian cricket endures even after he retired, whether it is via his mentorship of new players or his administrative leadership.
Dada remains one of the most respected and beloved cricketers India has ever produced, a captain who built the foundation for India’s dominance in the years that followed.
