Published: Jul 08, 2016, 04:44 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 08, 2016, 04:47 PM (IST)
The former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly turned 44 on Friday. The social media was flooded with wishes from cricketers, fans and other celebrities. The likes of VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif were among the cricketers who posted a message for the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ on his birthday. Ganguly, who is fondly called ‘Dada’ led Team India from 2000 to 2005. Out of 49 Tests, Team India won 21, lost 13 and drew 15 under Ganguly’s captaincy. Meanwhile, out of 146 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), India won 76 and lost 65 matches under his leadership from 1999 to 2005. There were also five matches that ended in no result. READ: Happy Bday Ganguly! Former Indian skipper turns 44
Ganguly who was active in international cricket between 1992 and 2008, amassed 11,363 runs in ODIs at an average of 41.02. His Test average was also impressive at 42.17 with 7,212 runs. Ganguly is the only cricketer to win four consecutive man of the match awards in ODIs. He is easily one of the best Test batsmen produced by India as he Test average never slipped below 40.
Happy Birthday Dada, May all your dreams come true!! @SGanguly99 pic.twitter.com/q2ntdZlgAB
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2016
Hi dada @SGanguly99 Wish you a very happy birthday & wonderful year ahead. Rab rakha!!
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 8, 2016
HappyBirthdayDada @SGanguly99.
May you keep on helping India wave our flag high,just like u waved ur shirt at Lords pic.twitter.com/2ohxDlIKT5— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 8, 2016
@anilkumble1074 thank u Anil ..wish u and the team all the best — Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) July 8, 2016
@SGanguly99 india s best captain ever.who showed th way to win abroad.Champion,Fighter,Tiger,A friend happy bday pic.twitter.com/zmX2e5m5lx — Harbhajan Singh (@harbhajan_singh) July 8, 2016
@MamataOfficial thank u didi ..u r heart is of gold
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) July 8, 2016
A very happy birthday to a giant of Indian cricket @SGanguly99
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 8, 2016
Happy Birthday Dada! No captain has played a bigger role in my career than @SGanguly99. Wishing him a long life. pic.twitter.com/dwGeXaYMts — Mohammad Kaif (@KaifSays) July 8, 2016
Hi ganguly prince of calcutta.wish u happy birthday.may god bless u wth all the happiness in life @SGanguly99 — Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) July 8, 2016
Happy Birthday @SGanguly99 Have a gr8 year
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 8, 2016
Here’s wishing a very Happy Birthday to former #TeamIndia captain @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/drWHWjdvJN
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 8, 2016
#HappyBirthday @SGanguly99 have a wonderful time! Best wishes from team @BCCI ! pic.twitter.com/CcIX9Iub40
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 8, 2016
Ganguly led a completely young team and met with a lot of success as Indian captain. He led India to the finals of ICC Champions Trophy in 2001 (Sri Lanka), ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa, won a Test series against Australia at home (2001) and drew against them Down Under in 2003-04. Under his captaincy, India won the NatWest series against England and he celebrated by taking his shirt off at the Lord’s balcony, which has become an iconic scene in Indian cricket history.
