Heads Dada wins, tails Ponting loses: When Ganguly pranked 'Punter' with 'head-tail'
Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke recounts a humorous anecdote where Indian captain Sourav Ganguly tricked Ricky Ponting during a coin toss. The story highlights the competitive yet playful nature of the historic cricket rivalry.
Why it matters
It offers a humanizing look at legendary sports figures and the cultural lore surrounding international cricket rivalries.
Sourav Ganguly is widely regarded as one of the most influential captains in Indian cricket history. During his career, "Dada" was known for several memorable moments on and off the field, from making Steve Waugh wait at the toss and celebrating shirtless on the Lord's balcony to clashes with coaches Greg Chappell and John Buchanan, arguments with Shane Warne, and refusing to walk after Graeme Smith claimed a catch.But former Australia captain Michael Clarke has shared another story that shows a lighter side of Ganguly.In his book Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians, author Boria Majumdar quotes Clarke recalling an incident involving Ganguly and Ricky Ponting during a toss in India, although Clarke admits he does not remember which match it was.“One of Clarke’s favourite anecdotes goes thus: Ganguly and Ricky Ponting were out at the toss during one of the matches in India — Clarke doesn’t specifically remember which…
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