Sourav Ganguly, The Prince Who Changed India's Fortune

In the period of the 90's and at the start of the 21st century, India's cricket team had the reputation of "Tigers at home, Lambs Abroad". The team would put in some wonderful performances at home but would succumb tamely on fast, bouncy pitches away from the comforts of the sub-continent.

However, one individual decided to change India's fortunes. He was called the "Prince of Kolkata". He was fondly called as Dada. He was a symbol of elegance and aggression. The name Sourav Ganguly will always be remembered for the way how he changed Indian cricket's mindset and how he memorably turned around India's poor away record.

As Ganguly turns 44, it is important to look at the impact Ganguly had with his captaincy. Everyone knows about his 7213 runs in 113 Tests and 11363 runs from 311 ODIs. All have focused on his aggressive style of captaincy. However, few have acknowledged this one record that shattered the "Tigers at home, Lambs abroad" myth.

For cricket fans, the number 11 will hold a special place. Ganguly, during his captaincy tenure from 2000-2005, accumulated a total of 11 wins away from home in 28 Tests, which is the most by any Indian captain. Ganguly's number of wins abroad and his contribution in those wins make him one of the best.

Even if one takes away the four wins against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Ganguly still achieved seven wins against top quality opposition in tough conditions.

Ganguly's Glorious English Summer

The first instance of Ganguly's brilliance came in the third Test at Leeds against England in 2002. Ganguly audaciously chose to bat on a green top in cloudy skies. Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Bangar withstood the hostile bowling and put India in a position of strength. Dravid contributed with a magnificent 148 and the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly carried on the good work. While Tendulkar smashed 193, Ganguly blasted 128 as India ended on 628/8 declared.

India's bowlers made England follow-on and in the end, they won the match by an innings and 46 runs to achieve their first win on English soil after 16 years. More success was soon to follow.

Under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy, India won a Test match in Australia after a gap of 22 years.

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Ganguly Sinks Australia Down Under

Australia has always been a bogey country for India. Their Test and ODI records have been woeful. However, in 2003/04, Ganguly proceeded to change all the statistical anomalies. He set the tone by leading from the front with a magnificent 144 in Brisbane as India escaped with a draw in Australia's fortress.

In Adelaide, Australia had amassed 556 and in response, Dravid and VVS Laxman reprised their heorics in the 2001 Kolkata Test with another triple-century stand. Dravid smashed 233 and Laxman made a sublime 148 as India were bowled out for 523. Ajit Agarkar ripped through Australia by taking 6/41 to bowl Australia out for 196. Dravid was once again the pillar of strength as India won the Test by four wickets to win a Test in Australia after 22 years. Although they lost the third Test in Melbourne, they drew the final game in Sydney to draw the series 1-1

Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid's partnership in Rawalpindi was the key in India winning the Test and a series in Pakistan.

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Ganguly Finds Some Neighbourly Love

India finally toured Pakistan for a full tour after 15 long years in 2004 and they immediately created history by winning the bilateral ODI series 3-2 for the first time in Pakistan. Heading into the Tests, Ganguly missed the first two matches with a back injury. Virender Sehwag created history by becoming the first Indian triple centurion in Tests with a magnificent 309 in Multan. India won the match by an innings and 52 runs under Dravid's captaincy.

However, they crashed down to earth with a heavy loss in Lahore and heading into Rawalpindi, it was winner takes it all. After bowling out Pakistan for 224, Dravid and Ganguly shared a 131-run stand as India dominated. Ganguly chipped in with 71 but it was Dravid's epic 270 that helped India win the match by an innings and 131 runs to seal a 2-1 Test series win, their first series win ever in the country

With notable wins in Kandy in 2001 and in Port-of-Spain in 2002, their first Test win in West Indies after 26 years, Ganguly made India a force to reckon with abroad. Happy Birthday, Dada.