In an interview, former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly shared several anecdotes and stories about his cricketing career, teammates, and personal life. He spoke about the unique experiences of playing cricket, including the thrill of hitting a cover drive and the camaraderie among teammates.
Ganguly also shared stories about his teammates, including Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Viru (Virender Sehwag). He revealed that Sachin had a habit of sleepwalking, and that he would often take Ganguly's bat to use in matches.
The interview also touched on Ganguly's personal life, including his love story with his wife and his childhood passion for football. He talked about how he became a left-handed batsman because his elder brothers were left-handed, and how he was initially a right-handed batsman.
Ganguly also spoke about his time as the captain of the Indian cricket team, including the Fab Four era with Sachin, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman. He mentioned that the team's success was due to the freedom and space given to each player, and that he would often push his teammates to perform better.
Overall, the interview provided a glimpse into Ganguly's life and career, showcasing his humor, humility, and passion for cricket.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker, Sourav Ganguly, was 14 years old when he first met Sachin Tendulkar at a cricket camp in Indore.
2. Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli filled Ganguly's room with water as a prank.
3. Ganguly was dropped from the Indian team for the 1992 World Cup.
4. Sachin Tendulkar took Ganguly's bat during the 1992 World Cup.
5. Ganguly used to carry a heavy bat, which Tendulkar liked to use.
6. Tendulkar used to carry sandpaper with him during the 1992 World Cup.
7. Ganguly and Tendulkar were roommates during a tour in Sydney.
8. Tendulkar would often wake up in the middle of the night to practice batting.
9. Ganguly had to wake up Tendulkar before he had to bat, as Tendulkar would sleep through the morning.
10. Ganguly scored a century in Sydney, which was a turning point in his career.
11. VVS Laxman would often take a bath before batting, which would sometimes delay his arrival at the crease.
12. Ganguly was a left-handed batsman, but was naturally right-handed.
13. Ganguly's older brothers played cricket left-handed, which influenced him to bat left-handed.
14. Ganguly's favorite batting performance was his first century at Lord's.
15. Ganguly was part of the "Fab Four" of Indian cricket, along with Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman.
16. Ganguly was the captain of the Indian cricket team from 2001 to 2006.
17. Ganguly has a football club in Kolkata, which won a title.
18. Ganguly's love story with his wife was reported in the media, but he claims it was exaggerated.
19. Ganguly's father arranged his marriage in February 1997.
20. Ganguly has four older brothers, who all played cricket left-handed.
21. Ganguly's first cricket match was at the age of 12, when he replaced his brother in a Ranji Trophy match.
22. Ganguly's family is from Kolkata, where cricket is a popular sport.
23. Ganguly's father had a bowling machine and a gym installed at their home to help him practice cricket.