In pics: Beyond captaincy, five knocks that defined Sourav Ganguly’s crafty batsmanship

Ganguly often grabbed the headlines for his fearless captaincy. However, many forget that he was an audaciously skilful batter who performed in the big moments for Team India across formats.By CNBCTV18.com July 9, 2025, 2:01:25 AM IST (Published)1 / 7Sourav Ganguly was a left-hander with flair and fearlessness, who helped reshape Indian cricket’s mental makeup in the early 2000s. While his legacy as a captain dominates the narrative, his batting carried its own moments of incisive brilliance. Here’s a look at five innings that played a big part in carving his niche as a flamboyant batter. (Image Source: Reuters)2 / 7No. 1 | Few debuts marry myth and merit the way Ganguly’s at Lord’s did. On a greenish surface against seasoned English bowlers, he walked in at 60-2 and composed 131 with poise and placement in 1996. The cover drive was already a signature. More crucially, the innings battled years of doubts about his temperament and earned India rare ascendancy in English conditions. (Image Source: Reuters)3 / 7No. 2 | In a must-win World Cup group match, Ganguly constructed a 318-run partnership with Rahul Dravid, scoring 183 off 158. It remains the highest score by an Indian in a World Cup. Beyond the numbers, the innings exposed Sri Lanka’s lack of depth post-1996 and showcased Ganguly’s ability to sustain aggression over an innings without rashness. (Image Source: Reuters)4 / 7No. 3 | In a high-pressure semifinal on foreign turf against a potent South African attack, Ganguly stood tall with an unbeaten 141 off 142 balls. India made their first ICC final since 1983 and the innings was clinical and calculated, resulting in the Men in Blue eventually emerging as the co-winners of the trophy alongside Sri Lanka. (Image Source: Reuters)5 / 7No. 4 | Ganguly’s 128 in a tense final was a masterclass, as he mixed patience with power and ensured India overhauled Pakistan’s total in the Asia Cup in 2000 with six wickets to spare. At a time when Indian teams often stumbled in finals, this was a template for calm assertion under pressure. (Image Source: Reuters)6 / 7No. 5 |  On a pitch with uneven bounce and against Muttiah Muralitharan in his prime, Ganguly counterattacked with 98 off 134 balls against Sri Lanka in Kandy, rescuing India from 34 for 4. Though India lost the match, Ganguly’s innings reminded critics of his adaptability outside homely comfort zones. (Image Source: Reuters)7 / 7Sourav Ganguly’s batting record may not place him among cricket’s statistical giants. But, whether it was about debuting at Lord’s or defying Muralitharan in Kandy, Ganguly batted with purpose, and often produced timely knocks that saved India the blushes during critical junctures of key encounters. (Image Source: Reuters)Continue Reading

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