Why Sourav Ganguly adopted left-handed batting stance despite being right-hander? Ex-IND captain reveals inspiration

Former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly revealed why he opted a left-handed batting approach despite naturally being a right-hander and also bowled with his dominant hand in cricket.

Sourav Ganguly is one of the greatest red-ball captains for the Indian national cricket team. Image: Reuters

FirstCricket Staff|May 16, 2026, 21:07:59 IST

Sourav Ganguly's batting remains etched in cricketing history, with fans remembering him as the ‘God of the Off-Side’ for his elegant cover drives. The former India captain was a delight to watch during his playing days, combining temperament and flair to leave a lasting mark across formats.

The former Indian cricketer etched history and also made records across formats with his temperament and flair.

Interestingly, Ganguly wasn't a natural southpaw. He bowled right-arm medium pace and carried out everyday tasks such as eating and writing with his right hand. In his youth, he batted right-handed before switching to a left-handed stance.

Ganguly reveals why he batted left-handed

The former Indian skipper revealed that most of his family members, including his elder brother Snehasish, were left-handed. As they grew up playing cricket together, Ganguly naturally imitated them and adopted the same style.

"Everyone in my family older than me was left-handed. My brother was left-handed. My other cousins were left-handed. They're all actually the same. My father were five brothers, so we all grew up together, the younger ones. And they all picked a cricket bat that way.

"Maybe by looking at someone, maybe by looking at my elder brother, who is six years older than me. So that's the way it started. My strong hand is my right hand," Ganguly said during an appearance on Figuring Out With Raj Shamani.

Sourav further revealed that he used his elder brother's equipment, which was designed for a left-hander. He also emphasised that Sachin Tendulkar was naturally left-handed, but chose to bat right-handed.

Ganguly: The icon of Indian cricket

Over the course of his career, Ganguly played 311 one-day matches, scoring 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02, and featured in 113 Tests, amassing 7,212 runs at an average of 42.17. He was among India’s most successful Test captains and is remembered for bringing an aggression and belief to the team as they battled challenging times.

The 'Prince of Kolkata' continues his association in the game as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

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