Latest news with #Ganguly
Mint
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
IND vs ENG: How June 20 connects Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly & Sai Sudharsan? Why this date is so special?
The date June 20 holds a very special place in the history of Indian cricket. It got a special addition on the same date in 2025 when Sai Sudharsan was handed his maiden India Test debut by none other than Cheteshwar Pujara at Headingly in Leeds on first on the eve of the first Test of the five-match series against England. But what's so special with this date? It was on June 20, the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli made their Test debuts. While Ganguly and Dravid were handed their first India Test caps in England in 1996 in the same Test, Kohli got off to the mark in red-ball cricket in West Indies in the year 2011. With the team undergoing changes in the 1996, Ganguly and Dravid were handed their debut Test caps at Lord's. What followed was nonetheless legendary stuff from the duo. While Ganguly scored a majestic debut Test hundred while opening the batting, Dravid missed the three-figure mark by just five runs. Later on the duo went on to become India captains. While India won the Natwest Trophy under Ganguly in 2002, Dravid led India to their third-ever Test series win against England on England soil in 2007. Ganguly was also a part of that Indian side. Kohli's debut came four years later in 2011 in the Caribbean.
India Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
OTD: Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly make Test debuts for India
June 20 holds a special place in Indian cricket history, marking the Test debuts of three players who would go on to become giants of the game — Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. Though they started in different years and under varying circumstances, each of them left a lasting impact on Indian 1996, India were on tour in England and arrived at Lord's for the second Test of the series. With the team undergoing changes, Ganguly and Dravid were handed their Test caps. What followed became the stuff of legend. Ganguly, batting at No. 3, scored a majestic 131 on debut, announcing himself in style at the Home of Cricket. His cover drives and confidence under pressure stood out the other end, Dravid, who came in at No. 7, compiled a solid 95 before falling just short of a debut century. While Ganguly's innings was more flamboyant, Dravid's knock was marked by grit and classical technique — qualities that would define his career. That Test marked the start of two outstanding journeys, with both players becoming the backbone of India's middle order for years to come. Fifteen years later, on the same date in 2011, a young Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston. Fresh off India's World Cup triumph earlier that year, expectations were high. However, Kohli endured a difficult start, scoring 4 and 15 in his two innings. The challenge of red-ball cricket proved a steep learning that modest beginning, Kohli quickly adapted to the demands of the format. He went on to become one of India's most prolific Test batsmen and a successful captain, leading the side to memorable victories both at home and abroad. Kohli retired as India's most successful Test captain. The former skipper amassed an impressive 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and played his final match earlier this year against Australia at the Sydney Cricket 20 may be just another date on the calendar, but for Indian cricket, it marks the beginning of three remarkable Test careers. Ganguly, Dravid and Kohli — each in their own way — reshaped the team and inspired a new generation. Their debuts may have been separated by years, but their legacies remain firmly intertwined in the fabric of Indian cricket. You May Also Like
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
India vs England Leeds Test record: When Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly centuries stunned Headingley in 2002
India vs England 2025: Shubman Gill's India are slated to take on Ben Stokes' England in their first Test of the new World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, starting Friday, at the famous Headingley Grounds in Leeds. The hallowed venue, one of the oldest in the UK, has witnessed several iconic Test matches in recent years, including Stokes' epic fourth-innings hundred in the 2019 Ashes to hand England a one-wicket victory. Interestingly, India and England have not featured in consistent Tests at the ground across the last five editions of the series between 2007 and 2021. During their last visit to the venue during the 2021-22 tour, India were humbled as the Joe Root-led side dismissed them out for 78 in the first innings, their lowest team score in England, before inflicting an innings defeat. However, not all Headingley memories turn cold for India as their previous visit back in 2002 proved to be a rare instance where India's top batters fired in unison. ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar Interview ahead of IND vs ENG 2025 Test series Shortly after their historic 2002 Natwest Tri-Series triumph at Lord's, Sourav Ganguly's men went down to England in the first Test of the series at the same ground, within a fortnight. A drawn second Test at Nottingham meant India could have only gotten back with a firm reply in the following Tests and the best of India's premier batters did turn up immediately in the third match at Headingley. Batting first, India lost Virender Sehwag early before Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Bangar forged a strong association to rebuild the innings after Ganguly decided to bat first in typically seam-friendly conditions. Piling on one of his most famous centuries, Dravid's adept counter-attack against the swinging ball propelled him to 148 before Sachin Tendulkar cracked a 330-ball 193, his highest Test score in England, as India batted into the third day. Even skipper Ganguly racked up a quick century, gathering 128 in 167 deliveries, making it the only Test instance where the trio recorded centuries in the same innings. India proceeded to bundle England out twice within the remaining period to etch an important innings and 46-run victory and eventually draw the series 1-1. In five previous Tests at the ground since 1952, India had only managed one victory in 1986 on the back of Dilip Vengsarkar's second-innings heroics. Matches: 7; England won: 4; India won: 2; Drawn: 1 What is England's Test record at Headingley, Leeds? England have played 80 Tests at Headingley since 1899, winning 37 and losing 27 matches besides 18 draws. England are currently on a five-match winning streak at the venue, their best since six successive wins between 1956-62 at the ground.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
From underdogs to dominators: Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly at forefront of India's fiery Headingley coup de grace
Their outlook to Test cricket having changed irrevocably following their spectacular come-from-behind 2-1 victory at home against Australia in March 2001, India embarked on a journey of fulfillment subsequently. A few months after sewing up the series triumph in Chennai, India scored their first win in Zimbabwe against a formidable home side and then hunted down 264 in Kandy for the loss of only three wickets even though they played the entire Test series against Sri Lanka without Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. Expectations were, therefore, high when Sourav Ganguly, who had forged his team into a unit that fought fire with fire and wasn't shy of lighting a few fires of its own, led his boys out to England in the summer of 2002. The precursor to the four-Test faceoff was a triangular series with the Lankans as the third wheel, India triumphing against the hosts in the final with young turks Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif masterminding a wonderful chase of 325 at Lord's. It was also at Lord's where the first of the four Tests was staged; with no room for him in the middle order, Virender Sehwag was pushed up to open the batting by Ganguly and coach John Wright. The right-hander responded with 84 and 27, and Ajit Agarkar lashed a second-innings century, but confronted with an unrealistic target of 568, India were bowled out for 397 to go 0-1 down. Rahul Dravid then scored the first of his three hundreds of the series and 17-year-old debutant wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel batted for 84 minutes to help secure an honourable draw in Nottingham, keeping England's lead down to manageable proportions when the teams moved to Headingley for the third Test. Leeds was renowned at the time for being a swing bowlers' haven, and a fair stammering of grass provided further fillip to the pacers, but after having played Anil Kumble in the first Test and Harbhajan Singh in the second, India included both spinners and therefore opted to bat first, bucking conventional wisdom. Sehwag was dismissed in the first half-hour by swing specialist Matthew Hoggard, but after that, India put on a fabulous batting exhibition. Dravid batted beautifully alongside Sanjay Bangar, Sehwag's opening partner, in an innings-steadying second-wicket stand of 170. Bangar, in only his sixth Test, was unflappable while Dravid was in subliminal touch, both in assured defence and delectable strokeplay. He backed up the second-wicket alliance by adding 150 for the third with Sachin Tendulkar, an honorary local given that a decade ago, he had become the first non-Yorkshireman to represent the county. The coup de grace came through a partnership for 249 for the fourth wicket between Tendulkar, by now purring along smoothly, and the unfettered Ganguly, who smashed the bowling apart. England took the third new ball in the gloom late on day two, hoping that the batters would appeal for light. Instead, it was Nasser Hussain's men who were scrambling for cover as Tendulkar and Ganguly unleashed their fury on Hoggard, Andy Caddick, Alex Tudor, Andy Flintoff and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles. England's top order all got off to starts but India were relentless. Zaheer Khan made the early inroads while Kumble and Harbhajan shared six wickets equally – they would take 11 wickets in the match – to send England crashing to 273 all out. Despite having bowled 89 overs, India had a spring in their step and Ganguly promptly enforced the follow on, emboldened by a massive lead of 355. England showed greater application in the second innings after Bangar had briefly threatened to run through the middle order with his medium-pace by accounting for Mark Butcher and John Crawley. Hussain, who had made just 25 in the first dig, bedded down to shore up the middle order in the company of veteran stumper-bat Alec Stewart through a 117-run fifth-wicket partnership. The skipper backed up his century in the NatWest final in June with 110 when Kumble broke through by having Hussain caught by Sehwag. That was the cue for a stunning collapse. England's six wickets rolled over for just 44 runs in a little over an hour and a half, India mercilessly swooping in for the kill once Hussain was packed off. It was in the fitness of things that the final wicket, Caddick, was dismissed c Ganguly b Kumble. Only 'caught Dravid' would have been more befitting, because it was the vice-captain who laid the foundation for a tremendous innings victory, against all odds. Brief scores: India: 628/8 decl. in 180.1 overs (Sanjay Bangar 68, Rahul Dravid 148, Sachin Tendulkar 193, Sourav Ganguly 128; Andy Caddick 3-150, Alex Tudor 2-146) beat England: 273 all out in 89 overs (Rob Key 30, Michael Vaughan 61, Nasser Hussain 25. Alec Stewart 78, Ashley Giles 25; Zaheer Khan 2-59, Ajit Agarkar 2-59, Anil Kumble 3-93, Harbhajan Singh 3-40) and 309 all out in 110.5 overs (Key 34, Mark Butcher 42. Hussain 110, Alec Stewart 47; Bagar 2-54, Kumble 4-66) by an innings and 46 runs. Player of the match: Rahul Dravid.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Going To Be Difficult...": India Great Sourav Ganguly Raises Major Question Mark On Shubman Gill
As Shubman Gill takes on the mantle of captaincy in India's evolving Test team, former skipper Sourav Ganguly has shared his thoughts on the youngster's new role and the challenges that lie ahead in English conditions. India is set to play a five-match test series against England starting June 20. The series will be held from June 20 to August 4 with matches scheduled at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester. Ganguly, known for grooming young talent during his captaincy era, expressed confidence in Gill's potential but also stressed the need for technical improvement, particularly in the longer format of the game. "Wishing him all the best. I am sure he can work on his Test match batting. He is a top-order batsman," Ganguly told Revsportz. The current Indian Test squad reflects a significant shift from the experienced core of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ajinkya Rahane to a newer generation featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Karun Nair, alongside Gill. Ganguly highlighted the changing dynamics of Indian cricket, noting, "There is no Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ajinkya Rahane... it's absolutely amazing - how things change over a period is unbelievable." Now one of the senior-most figures in the team, Gill has to lead both as a captain and as a key batter in challenging conditions. England's swinging and seaming pitches present a stiff test, particularly early in the innings. Ganguly emphasized the importance of Gill adapting his game accordingly. "These are not conditions where you just hit through the line. It's going to seam, swing, the new ball will be different. There can be a time when India is 10 for 2, and he has to come and play the new ball, so the application will be different," he said. Ganguly believes Gill must tighten his technique, especially when playing the moving ball outside the off stump. "Shubman needs to score a bit more runs in these conditions when it's seaming and swinging. It is going to be a bit difficult upfront with the new ball. Batting at 100 for 2 and 20 for 4 are two different things, so he has to get the defence right, learn how to leave deliveries outside the off stump," he added. He also pointed out the need for a front-foot approach in English conditions, a contrast from back-foot play that might work in Australia or South Africa. "England is a place where you need to be on the front foot quite a bit. It's not Australia or South Africa, where you can hang on the back foot and still play," he noted. "In New Zealand and England, it's going to swing and seam, so you've got to be on the front foot and have a good defence. You've got to fight here, where first hour, post lunch, post tea would be different. So, you can't be 50-4 in the first two hours. You've got to be 50-1, then you are in a position to win the Test match, and I think that's where India needs to be," he said.
