The late 90s and the first decade of the 2000s was a great time for Indian cricket. The team was achieving results on the field and it was comprised of some of the most talented batsmen in world cricket. This bunch was led by the indomitable Sourav Ganguly, under whose captaincy India reached their second ever ICC World Cup final in 2003. On Monday Wisden India uploaded a photograph of Ganguly along with teammates Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
The special photograph had India’s fabulous four side-by-side, with the caption: ‘Name a more iconic quartet, we’ll wait.’
Ganguly took note of this photo and replied: ‘Great time of life...enjoyed every bit of it.’
Ganguly, who is currently the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, led India to a historic Test series win at home against Steve Waugh’s all conquering Australian side. He was also in charge when India beat Pakistan in a Test series in Pakistan for the first time. Other big victories include the Natwest series win in England and sharing the ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka after the finals were washed out.
Ganguly along with Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman played a combined total of 2,151 international matches and scored more than 1,00,000 international runs. They also scored a combined total of 247 international centuries during their time with the Indian team.
After retirement, the four have gone separate ways but still are connected with the game which brought them together. Ganguly is currently heading the richest and the most scrutinised cricket board in the world while Dravid is looking after the India A and U-19 teams.
As for Laxman, he has made a name as one of the most respected pundits in the game these days. Tendulkar does a lot of humanitarian work apart from making guest appearances as cricket commentator and pundit.