Sourav Ganguly's 10 best knocks in international cricket

#8 51 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, December 15-18 2006

Ganguly scored 51 priceless runs to set up India’s first-ever Test match victory on South African soil

By the year 2006, Ganguly had seen all that an Indian cricketer could have seen in his career, and perhaps even more. He was sacked, both as the captain, as well as from the team, and was on a comeback trail. The fighting spirit that he had induced into Indian cricket throughout his days as captain was the source of inspiration that led the Bengal Tiger roar once again, and that too during a historic Test match. Before 2006, India had never won a Test on South African soil. That was about to change when India, with a reinstated Ganguly, took on the Proteas in the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

In swinging and seaming conditions, and against an attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel, Ganguly, who walked in to bat at No. 5 when India were 110/4, played one of the best knocks of his career, that too in a game he was making a comeback. His knock of 51 not out might appear to be an ordinary score, but given the fact that the Proteas were bowled out for 84 in their first innings – and they contained the likes of Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, and Graeme Smith amidst their ranks – this score by the Kolkata-born fighter was priceless. VVS Laxman’s 73 helped India post 236 in their 2nd innings in addition to their 249 in the 1st innings, and S Sreesanth’s 9-wicket haul in the match ensured that the home side fell short by 123 runs, thereby giving India their first Test win on South African soil.