- Thursday, March 13, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
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.
424 matches
18575 runs
38 hundreds
107 fiftiesWishing "Royal Bengal Tiger" Sourav Ganguly a very happy birthday ???#SouravGanguly #India #HappyBirthdayDada #Cricket pic.twitter.com/bphQRfd8nu
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 8, 2022
Happy Birthday Dada! You’ve been a great friend, an impactful captain and a senior any youngster would want to learn from.
Wishing you good health and happiness on your special day ? lots of love and best wishes always @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/SPEIVIXJcA
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 8, 2022
Time to raise the bat, Happy 50th birthday dada @SGanguly99 ? Wish you a healthy and prosperous year ahead ? pic.twitter.com/hN0BfvNnv7
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 8, 2022
From a fine batsman to an outstanding captain & now leading indian cricket on the whole—here’s wishing my favourite captain & mentor @SGanguly99 a very happy birthday.#HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/Sx1l1lQZJS
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 8, 2022
A great player, a superb leader, the @BCCI President, and my captain. Wish you a very happy birthday @SGanguly99, Dada ? Have a wonderful year ahead. Love always! pic.twitter.com/Ejh33skeHG
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 8, 2022
Celebration of Sourav Ganguly's 50th Birthday in UK. pic.twitter.com/JFyOvNKIr1
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 7, 2022
The captain who kept Steve Waugh waiting at the toss, who instilled self belief that Indian cricket could win abroad, who dared to remove his shirt on a Lords balcony, and the highest scoring left hander in Indian cricket. Happy 50th birthday to Bengal’s Dada @SGanguly99 ?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 8, 2022
Happiest Birthday Dada @SGanguly99
Wishing you good health and serene birthday filled with endless blessings! pic.twitter.com/PSQi1bJsz7— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 8, 2022
From donning the hat of #TeamIndia's Captain to BCCI President, your journey is an impeccable example of dedication and ascertainment. There is a lot to learn from this journey. শুভ জন্মদিন দাদা @SGanguly99। আপনার আগামী বছর মঙ্গলময় হওয়ার কামোনা করি। pic.twitter.com/yEz1NBBdWN
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 8, 2022
Many happy returns of the day, Dada @SGanguly99 ? A great career on the field and now the heart and soul of @BCCI, you have inspired many in your journey. Wishing you good health and a blessed year ahead. Lots of love! pic.twitter.com/q7orI1oPno
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) July 8, 2022
Many many happy returns of the day dada @SGanguly99 ? Have seen ur video where u r dancing while celebrating, great to see that. Keep rocking and have a blessed year ahead ? #SouravGanguly pic.twitter.com/U3jmtmWOPv
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) July 8, 2022
