'Under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy, if someone sledged us, we would give it back' - Deep Dasgupta traces origin of India's aggressive approach

Deep Dasgupta, the former India wicketkeeper, has reflected on how Sourav Ganguly's captaincy fundamentally altered the team's approach to on-field aggression and sledging. Dasgupta played 8 Tests and 5 ODIs for India during his career and witnessed firsthand the shift in team personality that took place under Ganguly's leadership.

Dasgupta described a marked change in how the Indian team responded to opposition sledging. He noted that between his first tour and his final tour to Australia in 2003, the team's mindset underwent a visible transformation.

"Under Ganguly, if someone sledged, we started to give it back. Rather than saying, 'I will channel it', while we used to channel it, we would give it back as well. His nickname is Maharaj. So, he's always had that idea that 'I am the king.' And it started reflecting on the team as well," Dasgupta said on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan

How Ganguly changed India's response to sledging

Before Ganguly took over as captain in 2000, the Indian team had adopted a different approach to handling confrontation on the field. Dasgupta explained that players would internalise and channel their emotions into their performances rather than responding directly to opposition tactics. This method allowed the team to focus on cricket without engaging in verbal exchanges.

Under Ganguly's leadership, the team's philosophy shifted. While players continued to channel their emotions into their cricket, they also began to express themselves more openly when faced with sledging. This dual approach marked a departure from the more reserved mindset that had characterised Indian cricket in earlier years.

"Now, while we were doing that (channelising), we were expressing it as well. I think between my first tour and my last tour in Australia in 2003, you could see that change. Earlier it was controlled and internal. But by the time we came to 2003, if someone said something, we would give it back," Dasgupta said.

Ganguly led India in 196 international games, recording 97 wins, 79 losses and 15 draws across all formats. In Test cricket, his record stood at 21 wins, 13 losses and 15 draws from 49 matches. His tenure as captain saw India achieve significant milestones, including winning the NatWest Trophy in the United Kingdom, securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2001, and recording Test victories at Leeds in 2002 and Adelaide in 2003.

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Dasgupta's assessment came after Indian players were seen sledging Sri Lankan batters during the recently concluded Test series. Yashasvi Jaiswal also got into an altercation with Asitha Fernando, where the former seemed to have headbutted the Sri Lankan seamer. Both were fined for their troubles.