Daijiworld Media Network- Bardhaman

Bardhaman, Feb 21: Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has expressed confidence in Team India’s performance in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, stating that the team will put up a strong show.

"India will play well (in Champions Trophy)," Ganguly told reporters.

India made a dominant start in the Champions Trophy, securing a six-wicket victory against Bangladesh in their opening match.

Batting first, Bangladesh’s top order collapsed to 35/5, before a 154-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy (100 in 117 balls, six fours, two sixes) and Jaker Ali (68 in 114 balls, four fours) helped them reach 228/10.

In response, India got off to a solid start with a 69-run opening stand, led by skipper Rohit Sharma (41 off 36 balls, seven fours). Despite a minor stumble at 144/4, Shubman Gill (101 off 129 balls, nine fours, two sixes*) and KL Rahul (41 off 47 balls, one four, two sixes*) guided India to victory.

For his match-winning century, Gill was named 'Player of the Match'.

A legendary left-handed batsman, Sourav Ganguly played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs, amassing 18,575 runs across all formats. Fondly known as the 'Prince of Kolkata', he captained India to 21 Test wins and led the team to the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Post-retirement, Ganguly took on key administrative roles, serving as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) before becoming the BCCI president. He also contributed to cricket governance as a member of the BCCI’s Technical Committee and the Cricket Advisory Committee alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.

Retiring from international cricket in 2008, Ganguly's impact on Indian cricket remains profound, both as a player and an administrator. His faith in Team India’s Champions Trophy campaign reflects his enduring confidence in Indian cricket’s strength.