Sourav Ganguly Gave The Indian Team A Real Steel: David Lloyd
Published - 13 Jan 2021, 07:46 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:39 AM
Former England batsman, David Lloyd is in all praise for Sourav Ganguly and regards the former Indian skipper as a harbinger of an aggressive change in the mentality of Indian cricket.
Ganguly was given the captaincy during the time when Indian cricket was hit by the match-fixing scandal. While speaking to Sony Sports Networks, David Lloyd says that the southpaw provided the much-needed bravado to the team. He points out that under Ganguly India started to win overseas which gave them recognition outside their home.
“I’m a massive fan of Ganguly by the way. I think Sourav Ganguly gave the team a real steel that we will not be dictated by quick bowlers because we’re going to find some of our own players. “I think Ganguly has been a massive influence on Indian cricket. I think he’s been the catalyst for Indian cricket to be a worldwide force,” David Lloyd told Sony Sports Networks.
Sourav Ganguly led India in 49 Test and won 21 of those; including a Test series victory in Pakistan, Test match triumphs in Australia and England. He was also at the helm when Team India were the joint winners of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka; Natwest Trophy in England, and took the team to the 2003 ICC World Cup final.
Ganguly went to Australia fully prepared for the bouncing ball: David Lloyd
David Lloyd maintains that the Asian teams didn’t do well in the bouncy pitched in Australia. However, the 73-year-old says Ganguly, who is the current President of the BCCI, came fully prepared for the short stuff when he toured Down Under; it is no surprise that the left-hander has a hundred at The Gabba, one of the bounciest tracks in Australia.
Fondly known as ‘Bumble’, David Lloyd says that Ganguly along with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and the rest of his teammates instilled the belief in the team that they could win outside Asia as well.
“It was always a suggestion that India, away from home, don’t like the bouncing ball. Ganguly went to Australia fully prepared for the bouncing ball. Of course, India in India, it is unbelievably difficult.
“But you always felt that India away from home that you’ve got every chance. Ganguly was the catalyst. Ganguly and there was the duo of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar,” David Llyod added.
