Sportskeeda's Top 50 Indian Test cricketers of all-time (20-11)

#16 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly changed the face of Indian cricket with his bold leadership

Taking over the reins of a team whose image had been tarnished with the notorious match-fixing scandal and spate of under-whelming performances outside the comforts of home, Sourav Ganguly ushered in a new era in Indian cricket. With his in-your-face approach and aggressive leadership, he triggered a revolution by refurbishing the team's body language in away Tests. Not content with merely competing, the tough competitor demanded results and managed to get the best out of a talented bunch of players.

Ganguly's highly influential captaincy meant that he never really got his due as a Test-class batsman. His potential was evident when he smashed a century on debut at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in the 1996 series against England.

Upon beginning his career at number three, he adapted his game to the challenges of batting in the lower-middle order. The splendid 196-ball 144 not only set up a draw at the Gabba against the all-conquering Australians but also showed the world that the Indian team was there to play. And play, they did.

Career Span: 1996-2008

Statistics: 7212 runs from 113 matches at an average of 42.17 with 16 centuries and 35 fifties