On the revered grounds of the Lord's, few would even consider celebrating by stripping off their shirt and waving them in the air. But in 2002, Ganguly did precisely that.

Wishing a very happy 52nd birthday to Sourav Ganguly today! Born July 8, 1972, Ganguly is one of India's most iconic cricket captains. Revered for reshaping Indian cricket, Ganguly's tenure was marked by his impactful leadership and occasional controversies. Though his journey was not without challenges, his remarkable career and legacy continue to be celebrated.

Let us have a look at five Dada controversies.

Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh during toss in the 3rd Test, 2001

Ganguly vs. Waugh

The 2001 India-Australia series remains one of the most riveting encounters in modern cricket. An invigorated Indian squad, under the leadership of the spirited Ganguly, took on the dominant Australians and emerged victorious in a thrilling contest. 

Ganguly, known for his ability to rattle his opponents, reportedly arrived late for the toss on multiple occasions during the series, much to the annoyance of the usually calm Steve Waugh. Waugh maintains that Ganguly's delay was deliberate to gain a psychological edge over the Australians. Ganguly refuted these claims, stating that he was late only once due to a misplaced blazer.

Indian team celebrates their win at the Natwest Final at Lords

Celebration at the Lords

On the revered grounds of the Lord's, few would even consider celebrating by stripping off their shirt and waving them in the air. But in 2002, Ganguly did precisely that. During a thrilling match where India successfully chased 326 runs to win the NatWest series, Ganguly famously removed his shirt from the Lord's balcony and swung it wildly in celebration. 

In his book "Indian Summers," John Wright revealed that Harbhajan Singh had initially planned for the entire team to do the same, but Rahul Dravid intervened to prevent it. Nevertheless, Ganguly's spontaneous gesture became iconic. It directly responded to Andrew Flintoff's similar antics at the Wankhede Stadium earlier that year after England had won a close match against India.

Sourav Ganguly, in a conversation with Greg Chappell

Ganguly vs. Chappell

This incident stands as the pinnacle of Ganguly controversies. In 2005, the Indian cricket team saw a significant shift as Greg Chappell succeeded John Wright as coach. Ganguly was struggling with his form, and the pressure was mounting. During a tour to Zimbabwe, Chappell bluntly suggested that the captaincy might be affecting Ganguly's batting and, consequently, the team's performance. Ganguly scored a detailed century on the first test but informed the media that Chappell had asked him to step down as captain.

This revelation triggered a massive controversy. Chappell sent an email to the Indian cricket board detailing his conflicts with Ganguly. Shortly after, Ganguly was removed as captain and dropped from the ODI team. He spent about a year out of the national squad before returning. This period is considered one of the most contentious in Indian cricket history. The Kolkata fans were particularly displeased, showing their anger by cheering for the South African team during an ODI against an Indian side led by Rahul Dravid.

The Chappell-Ganguly saga ended sourly, with India suffering a humiliating first-round exit from the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. This period remains a dark chapter in the annals of Indian cricket.

Ganguly vs. Warne

Even outside international cricket, Ganguly's clashes with the Australians persisted in the Indian Premier League (IPL).In 2008, during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Jaipur, Shane Warne publicly expressed his frustration. Warne criticized Ganguly for making his team wait on the field for him to come out to bat, claiming that the delay was unwarranted.

He also had an issue with Ganguly asking the umpire to verify if a Rajasthan fielder had taken a catch cleanly. Warne referenced a Spirit of Cricket pledge signed earlier and expressed disappointment. Ganguly responded sharply in an interview with Times Now, questioning Warne's moral authority on the spirit of the game given his career.

Sourav Ganguly with Virat Kohli

Ganguly vs. Kohli

During Sourav Ganguly's tenure as BCCI president, tensions between him and then-captain Virat Kohli came to the forefront. Kohli, known for his fiery demeanour, publicly stated that no one from the BCCI had asked him to step down as T20 captain. This contradicted Ganguly's earlier assertion that he had made such a request. This public exchange cast Ganguly in a negative light, fueling speculation about discord between the two.

Their strained relationship was further highlighted during IPL 2023 when Ganguly and Kohli notably did not shake hands. This incident reignited rumours and media stories about their alleged rift, adding a layer of drama to the cricketing landscape off the field.