‘Prince of Kolkata’ and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who once stared down the world’s fastest bowlers and turned Indian cricket’s fortunes, is now finding himself on a sticky political pitch. After the BJP’s emphatic sweep in West Bengal, a cordial meeting with BJP leader PN Pathak in Kolkata left Dada facing more than a few bouncers from angry supporters.
While some fans are branding Ganguly as “selfish and opportunist”, others are urging the BJP leadership not to induct him into the party.
The images of the meeting between Pathak and Ganguly were shared on X by the BJP leader on Wednesday, days after the saffron party swept the Bengal polls. The BJP hit a double century in the state, winning 207 out of 293 Assembly seats.
“Today in Kolkata, a cordial meeting took place with former Indian team captain Mr Sourav Ganguly ji,” Pathak posted on X. The post went viral and triggered sharp backlash with several accounts accusing him of classic opportunism.
Some critics contrasted him with former Indian pacer from Siliguri, Ashoke Dinda. He joined the BJP in 2021, faced bodyline bowling from the opposition and never retreated to the pavilion, said the critics. Ganguly, they said, always played according to which side was in power.
Ganguly, who the fans call the ‘Prince of Kolkata, Dada, and Maharaj, was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1972. He started his cricketing career in the city, and represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy season of 1989-1991 for the first time. He made his ODI debut for India in 1992 against the West Indies, but was dropped soon.
Years later, during the 1996 Tour of England, Ganguly made his Test debut for India and hit a century in the match. Since then, Ganguly’s prominence in Indian cricket grew, and he became the team’s captain in 2000. He led Team India to win the 2002 ICC Champion’s Trophy and to the 2003 ODI World Cup final, where India lost to Australia.
After his retirement, Ganguly settled in Kolkata and served as the president of the BCCI and the CAB.
Ganguly on April 29 cast his vote at a Behala Purba polling station in Kolkata. Asked who would win the polls, Ganguly said, “Even Maa Durga cannot predict the possible results.”
Now days after the election results, Ganguly is being slammed for not having a public political stance.
“Year 2020, BJP: Sourav, you should join BJP. Sourav Ganguly: Declined. BJP: Become BCCI president. Sourav Ganguly: Ok. BJP: Become CAB President. Saurav Ganguly: OK. BJP : Speak on TMC violence. Sourav Ganguly: Declined. BJP: Speak on TMC’s corruption. Sourav Ganguly: Declined. BJP: Speak on TMC’s Muslim appeasement. Sourav Ganguly: Declined. 2025: BJP: You should join BJP and let’s remove Mamta Banerjee. Sourav Ganguly: Declined. 2026: BJP wins Bengal: Saurav meets BJP leaders,” a person wrote on X, claiming how Ganguly stayed away from politics all these years.
“The most selfish, opportunist person I have ever seen,” added the person on his post.
Many BJP-aligned people on X also expressed strong resentment over the meeting. They warned party leaders against giving him an easy single.
“WE DON’T NEED HIM… HE IS ACTING SMART… PLEASE IGNORE HIM,” said a person on X.
“Sir, please don’t even think about getting him into the BJP. He chickened out when his dadagiri was really required… He can’t simply be allowed to enjoy the fruit of success built on the sacrifices of hundreds of BJP karyakartas who faced real heat in the middle,” posted another person on X.
Another person was blunt in asking the BJP leadership against taking former Trinamool Congress leaders into the saffron party. Another person said, “Never bring this an opportunist… Just a traitor.”
“Don’t allow Tollywood TMC slaves to join BJP… Do not take Sourav Ganguly into the BJP,” said a person. “If this person joins the BJP, I will campaign for TMC,” another said.
Some people, however, defended Ganguly. “He never joined any political party… He worked with whoever was in power to strengthen Bengal cricket,” a person said.
Ganguly built his legacy by walking out to bat when the team was under pressure. Today, many feel he has played a loose shot outside the off-stump (like he sometimes did in his cricketing days) in the political arena. He now seems to have been caught in the slips.
– Ends
