3. Sourav Ganguly (2000-2005)
During his stint as captain, Sourav Ganguly, also known as “Dada,” transformed Indian cricket’s mentality. Ganguly’s leadership, which began when he took over the team in 2000, was defined by boldness and the capacity to encourage a winning attitude. With a win percentage of 42.85 throughout 49 Test matches, Ganguly achieved 21 victories, 13 defeats, and 15 ties.
If not one of the most successful Test captains of India like his successors, Ganguly did lay the foundation of aggression in Indian cricket. Under his leadership and even after, young talents who went on to become superstars of the sport are acknowledged with being nurtured by the Southpaw. He created a spirit of rivalry and used a strong approach to leading the group. He made a risky step by supporting up-and-coming cricketers like Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh, which created the foundation for India’s future success in the sport.
