"I'm not a bowler and I want to bat" - Dilip Vengsarkar reveals Sourav Ganguly's words during the initial phase of his career
Published - 11 Aug 2024, 03:19 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:17 AM
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Legendary India batter Dilip Vengsarkar has opened up on former India captain Sourav Ganguly and his words during the initial phase of his career. Vengsarkar revealed how Ganguly was once picked as the fourth seamer in India's line-up.
Vengsarkar remembered the incident during the book launch of ‘Fab Five The Pandavas of India's Batting' in Mumbai. Alongside Dilip Vengsarkar, legendary cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar were also present at the event.
Dilip Vengsarkar reveals Sourav Ganguly's words during the initial phase of his career
During the initial phase of Sourav Ganguly's international career, Dilip Vengsarkar revealed how Ganguly was picked as the fourth seamer under seamer-friendly conditions in Australia in 1992. Ganguly had made his ODI debut in January 1992. Vengsarkar recalled his words during that time when a young Sourav Ganguly said that he wanted to bat since he was not a bowler.
“On that tour he (Sourav Ganguly) was selected as the fourth seamer and he was asked to go to the nets. After two deliveries, he said ‘I am not a bowler and I want to bat'." Vengsarkar said, as quoted by PTI.
“Ganguly was told that he was picked as the fourth seamer. But he did not get opportunities on that tour. After a few years, he was picked for the tour of England (in Tests),” he added.
Sourav Ganguly's memorable Test debut
It took Ganguly four more years to make his first Test appearance in 1996 against England at Lord's. He went on to score a magnificent hundred on his Test debut against a strong England attack. Ganguly batted at No. 3 in that match and was also India's only centurion in that match.
Ganguly scored 131 off 301 balls, a knock which was studded with 20 eye-catching fours. His cover drives were a treat to watch and it turned out to be a memorable Test debut for the youngster. Meanwhile, in the same game, Rahul Dravid also made his Test debut. Dravid scored a gritty 95 and helped India take a first-innings lead.
Sourav Ganguly's historic achievements
Sourav Ganguly turned out to be a highly successful captain during his era. Under his leadership, India defeated a nearly invincible Australian team 2-1 in a historic Test series in 2001. The famous Kolkata Test in which India won despite following on was also played in this series.
During the 2003 ODI World Cup, Ganguly took India to the World Cup final after a gap of 20 years. However, India faltered in the final as they lost to a Ricky Ponting-led Australia. Ganguly is known to have turned the attitude of Indian players. His aggressive attitude and the will to win outside home conditions helped in making India believe that they could win overseas as well.
Sourav Ganguly retired from international cricket in 2008. His last international was a Test match against Australia at Nagpur, which India went on to win comfortably in the end.
