Dada Declares Innings...

After winning against England at Mecca of cricket Lords cricket Ground

On his first tour to England where he blasted back to back cenuries

Sourav Ganguly has announced his retirement from the game, the former India captain said on Tuesday. Ganguly said he would be retiring from the game at the end of the India-Australia Test series, which begins in Bangalore on Thursday. After being controversially included for the four-Test series, Ganguly revealed that even he was surprised at his inclusion, but added that the stress forced him to take a decision on his career. "I have decided to quit. This will be my last Test series. These will be my last four Test matches for the country. I hope I will be able to go on a winning note. I thank you all for your cooperation,"

Tries his hand on hair cut

Ganguly told reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday. "I have informed my team of my decision. I hope I'll end my career with a winning knock," added the 36-year-old. Ganguly, who has scored 6,888 runs at an average of 41.74 with 15 hundreds, played 109 Test matches in a career spanning over 12 years, made a stunning entry to Test cricket with a century on debut at Lord's in 1996. He followed it up with another century at Trent Bridge in the next Test

The first families of Indian cricket Sourav and Sachin along with children

match. However, India's most successful Test captain fell out of favour with the BCCI's recent policy of blooding young talent to build for the future. "To be honest I didn't expect to be picked for this series. But then I didn't expect to be dropped for the Irani Trophy," Ganguly said. "It has been unfortunate that there is focus on me. I have learned to live with it. When I can't I will go." Ganguly followed it up by saying he will be quitting the game.

With wife Dona Ganguly

Following a prolific Ranji season in 1990-91, Ganguly made his One Day International debut for India against West Indies in 1992, and scored just 3 runs. He was dropped immediately since he was perceived to be "arrogant" and his attitude to the game was openly questioned. He toiled away in domestic cricket, scoring heavily in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons Following an innings of 171 in the 1995-96 Duleep Trophy, he was recalled to the national side for the tour of England in 1996 amidst intense media scrutiny. In 1997 Ganguly scored his maiden ODI century, opening the innings he scored 113, in his side's 238, against Sri Lanka later that year he won four consecutive Man of the match awards in the Sahara Cup with Pakistan the second of these was won after he took 5/16 off 10 overs, his best bowling in an ODI. After a barren run in Test cricket his form returned at the end of the year with three centuries in four Tests all against Sri Lanka two of this involved 250+ stands with Sachin Tendulkar.His dispute with then coach Greg Chappell resulted in many headlines during 2005 and early 2006. Greg Chappell emailed the BCCI stating that Ganguly was unfit to lead India and that his "divide

With wife at his home in Kolkata

and rule" behaviour was damaging the team. This email was leaked to the media and resulted in huge backlash from Ganguly's fans. Eventually due to his poor form and differences with the coach he was stripped of his captaincy and dropped from the team. However, 10 months later, during India's tour to South Africa, Ganguly was recalled after his middle order replacements Suresh Raina and Mohammad Kaif suffered poor form. well it end of an eraas first pillar of holy trinity of Sachin,Rahul & Sourav calls it a day. India & world will miss God of off side. & India's most sucessful captain- a man who took aussies head on and sound of collision was heard world wide......