Sourav Ganguly, popularly known as ‘Dada’, is a former Indian cricketer, known for his captaincy and outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.
Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, Ganguly became a prominent figure in the late 1990s. He gained international fame during India’s 1996 tour of England, where he scored back-to-back centuries in the first Test.
His fearless leadership of the Indian national team from 2000 onwards revolutionized Indian cricket, turning the team into a competitive force on the global stage.
contour
- Full name: Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
- Nickname: Dada
- Date of birth: July 8, 1972
- Age: 52 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: India, West Bengal, Kolkata, Behala
- Nationality: Indian
- Occupation: Cricketer (retired), cricket administrator, commentator
- Parents: Chandidas Ganguly (father), Nirupa Ganguly (mother)
- Siblings: Snehasish Ganguly (brother)
- Spouse: Dona Ganguly
- Children: Sana Ganguly (b. 2001)
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Hinduism
- Ethnicity: Bengali
- Net worth: $85 million
early life and education
Sourav Ganguly was born on July 8, 1972 in Behala, Kolkata. He is 52 years old.
His father, Chandidas Ganguly, was a wealthy businessman who ran a successful printing business, making the Ganguly family one of the wealthiest families in Kolkata.
Ganguly grew up in luxury and earned the childhood nickname “Maharaj”, which means “Prince”.
Despite being born into a family where football was more popular, Sourav’s brother Snehasish shaped his cricketing career.
Snehasish, a former cricketer, encouraged Sourav to take an interest in the sport and convinced their father to let him attend a cricket camp.
Sourav attended St. Xavier’s College School, Kolkata, where his cricketing talent blossomed. After excelling in school cricket, he graduated from St. Xavier’s College with a degree in commerce.
Despite his mother’s reservations about his sporting career, Sourav’s cricketing prowess was evident early on, as he captained the school team and displayed exceptional skills with the bat.
personal life
In 1997, Sourav Ganguly married his childhood sweetheart Dona Roy. Their marriage initially caused a stir because their families were long-time rivals, but the couple’s union eventually helped reconcile the two families.
They later remarried in the presence of both families. In 2001, the couple welcomed their daughter Sana Ganguly.
Now in her twenties, Sana occasionally appears at public events with her father. Ganguly has always spoken of how important his family is to him, and his marriage to Donna has been one of stability and support throughout his high-profile career.
Profession
Sourav Ganguly made his international debut for India in 1992 in an ODI against West Indies. Nonetheless, his Test debut during the 1996 tour of England thrust him into the limelight.
He quickly became a core member of the Indian cricket team after scoring consecutive hundreds in the first two Test innings.
Known for his elegant left-handed batting, Ganguly has accumulated over 18,000 runs in international cricket, including 16 Test centuries and 22 ODI centuries.
As captain since 2000, Ganguly led India to numerous victories, including the historic NatWest series win in England in 2002 and the 2003 World Cup final.
Apart from his professional career, Ganguly is also a successful administrator and served as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) before taking up the prestigious post of BCCI president in 2019.
His leadership played a key role in shaping Indian cricket both on and off the field.
Awards
- Padma Shri(2004)
- ICC Champions Trophy (2002, joint winners)
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1997)
- Four-time ODI “Man of the Match” winner
net worth
Sourav Ganguly’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $85 million.
Most of his wealth comes from his cricket career, endorsements and business ventures.
dispute
Sourav Ganguly has been mired in controversies many times in his career.
Early in his career, he was criticized for displaying “princely behavior” and a superior attitude, especially during county cricket in England.
In the 2002 NatWest series final at Lord’s, Ganguly made headlines for waving his shirt in the air after India’s win, an act that many viewed as disrespectful to the tradition of the gentleman’s game.
He also had a major dispute with coach Greg Chappell in 2005. The disagreement led to him being relieved of the captaincy of the Indian team and being temporarily excluded from the team.
The infamous Ganguly-Chappell saga dominated Indian cricket news for months on end and is still considered one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of Indian cricket.
social media
- Instagram: @souravganguly
- Twitter: @SGanguly99
