
Despite being right-handed, Ganguly learnt to bat left-handed so he could use his brother's sporting equipment. After he showed some promise as a batsman, he was enrolled in a cricket academy. Ganguly is known to carry a lot of bats with him during tours. (Express archive photo)
Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar occupied the very famous Indian middle-order (Tests) for more than a decade. With Dravid at 3, Tendulkar at 4 and Ganguly at 5, there was no respite for the opposition camp. In ODIs, Tendulkar and Ganguly hold the world record for the maximum number of runs scored by the opening partnership. (Express archive photo)
Sourav Ganguly, after losing his place in the Indian team after a spat with then coach Greg Chappell, raised a banner of revolt against his long-time mentor Jagmohan Dalmiya, accusing the former BCCI chief of playing with his career.
Seen here Anshuman Gaekwad (L), Sourav Ganguly (C), Jagmohan Dalmiya (R) (Express archive photo)
Ganguly made a comeback to the Test team after India displayed a poor batting display in the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy and the ODI series in South Africa, in which they were whitewashed 4-0. Coming in at 37/4, Ganguly scored 83 in a tour match against the rest of South Africa and staged an emphatic comeback after being dropped in 2005. (Express archive photo)
Ganguly was not afraid to roll his arm over, and turned out to be very handy on tracks with little assistance. His street-smart cricketing brain outfoxed the batsmen on more than one occasion. In ODIs, Ganguly has 100 wickets to his name with best figures of 5/16. (Express archive photo)
After playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Ganguly, in the fourth season, was signed by the Pune Warriors India, after being unsold in initial bidding process and he made 50 runs of four matches and three innings. In the 2012 season he was appointed as the captain cum mentor for the Pune unit. In the 2012 season, Ganguly announced that he will not play in next year's IPL. (Express archive photo)
Ganguly played a major role in shaping a lot of young careers. Sehwag, who started as a middle-order batsman, was promoted up the order under his captaincy. And, rest is history! (Express archive photo)
Post retirement, Ganguly is doing a lot of commentary with host broadcasters ESPN STARSPORTS. His analysis and views are only adding flavour to the gentlemen's game.
Seen here: Sourav Ganguly and Sanjay Manjreker with ICC General Manager-Commercial, Campbell Jamieson and Aloke Malik, former Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd. (Express archive photo)
The fluent left-hander will always be remembered at Lord's. First for his century on Test debut and then for his famous celebration after India won the NatWest Series against hosts England in 2002. (Express archive photo)
Ganguly played his last Test against Australia at Nagpur. The left-hander looked good in the first innings, but was out for a golden duck in his last Test innings. (Express archive photo)