Sourav Ganguly (born 8 July 1972) is a former Indian cricketer, captain and cricket administrator. Nicknamed “Dada” and the “Prince of Kolkata”, he was an elegant left-handed batsman who scored more than 11,000 ODI runs. As captain from 2000 to 2005 he rebuilt India after the match-fixing scandal and gave the team a more aggressive attitude, leading them to the 2003 World Cup final. He later served as president of the BCCI from 2019 to 2022.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Sourav Chandidas Ganguly |
| Nicknames | Dada, Prince of Kolkata, Maharaja |
| Born | 8 July 1972, Calcutta (now Kolkata), India |
| Age | 54 |
| Role | Left-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler |
| International career | 1992–2008 |
| Record | 11,363 ODI runs (22 centuries); 7,212 Test runs (16 centuries) |
| Captaincy | 2000–2005 |
| Administration | BCCI president (2019–2022); Cricket Association of Bengal president |
| Spouse | Dona Ganguly (m. 1997) |
| Children | 1 (Sana) |
Early Life
Ganguly was born in Calcutta into a wealthy family. His father, Chandidas Ganguly, ran a printing business, and his elder brother, Snehasish, played first-class cricket for Bengal. He is naturally right-handed but learned to bat left-handed so he could use his brother’s equipment.
Career
After a single ODI in 1992, Ganguly returned to the team in 1996 and scored 131 on his Test debut at Lord’s. He followed it with another century in his next Test. In ODIs he formed one of the most successful opening partnerships in history with Sachin Tendulkar. His 183 against Sri Lanka at the 1999 World Cup, made in a record partnership with Rahul Dravid, was for years the highest score by an Indian at a World Cup.
Ganguly took over as captain in 2000, as Indian cricket was reeling from the match-fixing scandal. He backed young players such as Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan, and he won the famous 2001 home series against Australia. After India won the NatWest Series final at Lord’s in 2002, he waved his shirt from the balcony, an image that became a symbol of the new, confident India. India shared the 2002 Champions Trophy and reached the 2003 World Cup final. He won 21 Tests as captain, then an Indian record.
Ganguly lost the captaincy and his place in 2005 amid a public dispute with coach Greg Chappell. He fought his way back into the team in 2006 and batted well before retiring from international cricket in November 2008. In the IPL he captained Kolkata Knight Riders and later played for Pune Warriors, retiring from all cricket in 2012.
Administration and Commentary
Ganguly became president of the Cricket Association of Bengal in 2015 and president of the BCCI in October 2019, serving until 2022. He has chaired the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee since 2021. In September 2025 he returned as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. He has also worked as a television commentator and hosted the quiz show Dadagiri Unlimited.
Personal Life
Ganguly married the Odissi dancer Dona Roy, his childhood sweetheart, in 1997. Their daughter, Sana, was born in 2001.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Sourav Ganguly born?
Sourav Ganguly was born on 8 July 1972 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India and is 54 years old.
What is Sourav Ganguly’s role?
Role: Left-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler.
Featured image: Sourav Ganguly receiving an India hockey jersey from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Photo by Government of Odisha, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
