‘I am the king’: Ex-cricketer reveals how Ganguly transformed Team India’s mindset

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta has recalled how Sourav Ganguly transformed the mindset of the Indian team, particularly in its response to sledging, with the former wicketkeeper-batter saying the captain’s “I am the king” attitude gradually rubbed off on the rest of the squad.Dasgupta, who represented India in eight Tests and five ODIs, reflected on the cultural shift in the team during Ganguly’s captaincy. He traced the origins of the fearless and combative approach that became associated with Indian cricket in the 2000s to Ganguly’s leadership, particularly when comparing his first tour of Australia with the historic 2003-04 visit.‘Under Ganguly, if someone sledged, we started to give it back’According to Dasgupta, the change was not simply about responding to opposition provocation but about developing a different personality as a team.