On Sourav Ganguly's 51st birthday, an outpouring of well-wishes flooded in for the former cricketer.

Ganguly, renowned as one of India's greatest batters in ODIs, received greetings from various members of the cricketing community, including the BCCI, former teammates, and current players. Having made his international debut in the 1992 Benson and Hedges World Series against the West Indies, Ganguly served his country admirably for 16 years. 

His batting prowess was widely recognized, especially in ODIs, where he amassed 7,212 runs in 113 Tests at an impressive average of 42.17, including 16 centuries. In the realm of ODI cricket, Ganguly played 311 matches, scoring 11,363 runs with an average of 41.02, accompanied by 22 centuries.

However, it is Ganguly's captaincy that stands out the most. Taking charge at a time when Indian cricket was recovering from the match-fixing scandal of 2000, he led the team to a historic victory over Steve Waugh's formidable Australian side in a Test series played on home soil. The remarkable triumph at the Eden Gardens, where India rallied despite being forced to follow on, remains etched in cricketing folklore. Ganguly's leadership also saw India reach the final of the 2003 World Cup and the 2002 Champions Trophy, where the final was declared a tie with Sri Lanka due to rain.

One of Ganguly's notable contributions as captain was his ability to identify and nurture talented players, who went on to become key match-winners for India. His tenure also saw him serve as the President of the BCCI from 2019 to 2022, during which he made crucial decisions for the sport. The BCCI extended birthday greetings to Ganguly, highlighting his incredible international career statistics of 424 matches, 18,575 runs, and 38 centuries. Numerous cricketing personalities joined in the celebration, including Sachin Tendulkar, who shared a nostalgic picture of himself with Ganguly, reminiscing about their time together on the field.

Yuvraj Singh, a former India all-rounder, playfully wished Ganguly on Twitter, joking about planning pranks with him. Wasim Jaffer, another former Indian cricketer, acknowledged Ganguly's role in elevating Indian cricket to new heights, expressing admiration for his leadership. Harbhajan Singh, a former Indian spinner, referred to Ganguly as the "Tiger" and the "Prince of Kolkata" while extending his birthday wishes. Dinesh Karthik, the Indian wicket-keeping batter, hailed Ganguly as a legendary cricketer and an exceptional leader, sending him warm regards on his special day.

The cricketing fraternity celebrated Sourav Ganguly's 51st birthday with heartfelt messages, recognizing his contributions to the sport and wishing him continued success and good health in the coming year.