Sourav Ganguly Reveals The Reason Behind His Famous Celebration At The Lord's

As much as he is remembered for transforming India into world beaters, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is equally remembered for the famous celebrations on the balcony of Lord’s, considered as the home of cricket.

Ganguly had famously taken off his shirt at the Lord’s balcony after India beat England in a thriller to seal the Natwest Series final. The incident had taken place way back in 2002 but the memories are still fresh in every cricket fan’s mind. Chasing an improbable 326 in 50 overs, India were looking well out of contest after being reduced to 146 for 5. However, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif produced one of the best innings of his career, with an unbeaten 87 as India completed a miraculous comeback from 146 for 5. And as soon India reached the target, Ganguly took his shirt off, waving it viciously and hurling expletives as the emotions got the best off him.

Well, the batting legend recently opened up on the incident. While many feel that it was Ganguly’s way of giving a fitting reply to former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff  who did the same after securing a victory against India in Mumbai, the former India star has revealed the reason behind his famous celebration.

Ganguly said he got carried away after India won a final after losing the last three.

“Before that we had lost three finals. A lot of that expression after the game was a sigh of relief. I just got carried away,” he said during a book launch in Kolkata.

Ganguly further recalled the incident that took place when he and Virender Sehwag began the chase. The duo gave the visitors a flying start by adding 106 runs but Ganguly was miffed with Sehwag after the latter did not pay heed to his advise.

“We had a terrific start and then Ronnie Irani came to bowl his slow medium bowlers. I told Sehwag ‘dont leave at this stage’,” he recalled. “Ronnie pitched it up and Sehwag scored a boundary. I told him to rotate a strike, he scored two more and also swept another. I finally stopped going at him, he understood that I as not happy.

“Later he told me ‘don’t get angry all those balls were ‘hittable’. Captaincy is not about being boss, also about holding back your tempers,” he added.

Ganguly was also asked about his most memorable series. In reply, the legendary skipper said: “It’s difficult to identify one series. We were 0-1 down and won 2-1 against Australia was remarkable in 2001.

“But I keep saying you always be judged how you do outside India. Of all our wins, Pakistan was good as well. It’s the belief we had of winning way that’s the legacy. After Dravid took over captaincy, we went to England and won there in 2007, so it’s the belief we can win away,” added the 45-year old.

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