Kolkata: After thrashing their opponents to a clean sweep white wash in tests, India will be playing their first ODI against hosts Sri Lanka at Dambulla on Saunday. However do you know where the ‘Bong Connection’ with Dambulla lies? It was here when India cricket witnessed to a special incident when the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ Sourav Ganguly became the quickest Indian to score 10,000 runs for his nation.
However many incidents lie behind this special event which could certainly be claimed to ‘nightmare for Indian Cricket’. During those days Sourav was playing county cricket for Glamorgan as ‘Captain Ganguly’ was suspended for 6 games due to slow over-rate during the Pakistan tour of India ODI series and as a result Rahul Dravid was appointed as the captain of the side which travelled to Sri Lanka. Though Ganguly returned to the side in the third ODI, Rahul Dravid was captain of the side for the entire series. And this could be said as the starting point in which the conspiracy to remove Ganguly for the skipper’s spot started. However the ‘Warrior Prince’ returned in style when he made his return game memorable in the third game by achieving the rare feat of being the second Indian to reach the landmark of 10,000 runs after Sachin Tendulkar.
Ganguly achieved the feat with a single to cover off Dilhara Fernando, was returning to international cricket after serving a four-match ban and on the back of a string of poor scores.
The left-hander, who was eventually out for 51 (110 balls, 5x4s), opened the innings at his favourite opening position with Virender Sehwag after captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and opted to bat in this crucial triangular series match.
His 51 at Dambulla was his first half-century since notching up 55 against Bangladesh in December the previous year.
Ganguly would have reached the 10,000-run mark earlier in the tournament had he not missed the first two matches because of the ban.