Former England captain Nasser Hussain credited Sourav Ganguly for changing Indian cricket, saying that India became a much fiercer and more aggressive side under the former captain’s leadership.
Ganguly was for long India’s most successful captain, before being overtaken by MS Dhoni first and Virat Kohli later. Not only did Ganguly usher India into a new era where they became a much more formidable team away from home, but he also brought a brand of aggression that wasn’t previously associated with the side.
“Ganguly changed Indian cricket,” said Hussain in a Sky Sports podcast. “Before Ganguly, India were a very humble, polite team. He made them a very feisty side.”
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Recalling Ganguly’s shirt-wave from the Lord’s balcony, after India’s stunning heist in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, Hussain said: “Freddie bowled brilliantly at the death in that series [in India before the NatWest series], in scorching heat [in Mumbai]! He got the last wicket and, as was the fashion then, he whipped his shirt off.
“He was waving his shirt over his head and somewhere in Ganguly’s mind, he stored that and made sure he used it at a future date.”
