Sourav Ganguly celebrates 51st birthday as fans and cricket fraternity shower wishes on Dada

Former Indian cricketing legend Sourav Ganguly, fondly known as Dada, turned 51 on Saturday, receiving an outpouring of birthday wishes from fans and the cricket fraternity.

Ganguly, who swiftly rose to become one of India's greatest cricketers, made his international debut in 1992. However, it was his debut Test match at Lord's, where he scored a century, that cemented his status as a legendary player.

Known as the "God of offside" due to his exceptional strokeplay in that region of the field, Ganguly has left an indelible mark on the game. On his birthday, several notable figures from the cricket world expressed their warm wishes for the former captain.

Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly's longtime teammate and friend, took to Twitter to extend his greetings. He playfully referred to Ganguly's love for dominating the offside and shared a heartfelt message accompanied by a photo. Yuvraj Singh, another former teammate, also joined in the celebrations, joking about their pranks together while expressing his love and warm wishes.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acknowledged Ganguly's contributions and accomplishments, highlighting his impressive international career record of 424 matches, 18,575 runs, and 38 centuries. Numerous other cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, sent their regards and commended Ganguly for his leadership and impact on the sport.

Ganguly's captaincy tenure witnessed remarkable moments, such as India's iconic comeback victory in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Eden Gardens. Under his leadership, the Indian team also reached the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. Ganguly faced setbacks during his career, including a tumultuous period under coach Greg Chappell. However, he made a resilient comeback and retired from international cricket in 2008.

Transitioning to the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ganguly captained both the Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors India. After retiring from active cricket, he ventured into administration and commentary. In 2022, Ganguly stepped down as the BCCI chairman, with Roger Binny taking over. Currently, he serves as the assistant head coach of the IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals.