Birthday special: Sourav Ganguly – 5 Best knocks by the Prince of Kolkata
Sourav Ganguly batted like a price throughout his illustrious international career that lasted a decade and a half. The left-handed batting colossus represented India in as many as 311 ODI matches and plundered a staggering 11363 runs. Ganguly also scored 22 centuries and 72 fifties as well in ODI cricket.
Even in the longest format of the game, Ganguly scored 7212 runs at an average of 42.18 and represented India in 113 Test matches. Needless to say, Ganguly will go down as one of the greatest batsmen of his time. With the Indian cricketing colossus turning 49 today, let us take a look at the top 5 knocks from Ganguly’s willow in international cricket.
5) 144 vs Australia (Tests)
In December 2003, Sourav Ganguly played one of the greatest knocks ever played by an Indian batsman on foreign soil in Test cricket. Against the formidable Australian side, Ganguly blazed his way to a 196-ball 144 at Brisbane. His innings was filled with 18 fours. Ganguly’s flamboyant innings helped India post a total of 409, in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 323. The match ended in a draw.
4) 141 vs Pakistan (ODIs)
On 25th January 2000, Sourav Ganguly scored a classic century against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. Batting first, India posted a total of 267/6 on the board, and the Indian innings was all about the dexterity and resplendence that Ganguly displayed out in the middle. In a 144-ball knock, the ‘Prince of Calcutta’ scored 141. Pakistan was bowled out for a total of 219 in reply, as India won the match by 48 runs.
3) 131 vs England (Tests)
Sourav Ganguly announced his arrival in Test cricket by notching up a classic century on Test debut against England and enshrining his name in the Lord’s Honours Board. England batted first and scored 344. In reply, it was Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid who stole the show for India. While Dravid scored 95, Ganguly scored a patient 131 off 301 deliveries, as India scored 429 in their first innings. England scored 278/9 in the second innings as the match ended in a draw.
2) 183 vs Sri Lanka (ODIs)
Sourav Ganguly’s greatest knock in ODI cricket came on 26th May 1999, in a World Cup encounter against Sri Lanka. Against a bowling attack consisting of the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Pramodya Wickremasinghe, the batting icon scored a marvellous 183 off 158 deliveries. Ganguly shared a 318-run partnership with Rahul Dravid, who scored 145, as India piled up a total of 373/6.
The Sri Lankan side succumbed under the pressure of a massive target to be chased and were bowled out for just 216, handing India a crushing 157-run victory.
1) 239 vs Pakistan (Tests)
The greatest knock from the blade of Sourav Ganguly came in December 2007, against the Pakistan side. India batted first in the Test match and posted a gargantuan total of 626 on the board. And, the chief architect of the Indian innings was Sourav Ganguly, who scored 239 off 361 deliveries. Ganguly struck 30 fours and 2 sixes in his stay out in middle. Pakistan responded with a total of 537. The Indian side scored 284/6 in the second innings and the match ended in a draw. Sourav Ganguly won the Player of the Match award.
