When we talk about Sourav Ganguly – the ‘Prince of Kolkata’, India’s iconic former captain – the spotlight usually falls on his glorious cover drives, bold leadership, and the fearless team he built. But there’s another name, rarely mentioned, who played a quiet yet crucial role in Sourav’s rise to cricketing greatness.
That name is Snehasish Ganguly – Sourav’s elder brother. A talented left-handed batter in his own right, Snehasish was the first cricketer in the Ganguly household. Long before Sourav wore the India cap, Snehasish was already making a name in Bengal’s cricket circles.
The Elder Brother’s Legacy
Born in Kolkata, Snehasish Ganguly was a stylish left-handed batsman who played for Bengal in domestic cricket. He had a promising career in the Ranji Trophy during the 1980s and early 90s. Many believed that with a bit of luck and consistent performance, he could have made it to the national team. His technique was sound, his temperament calm – he was every bit a cricketer worth watching.
He came from a cricket-loving family, and it was Snehasish who first started training seriously. In fact, the famous Ganguly household in Behala had a private cricket pitch, not for Sourav but for Snehasish’s training. It was only later that his younger brother began using it.
The Unexpected Turning Point
As the story goes, in the early days when Snehasish was playing for his club and Bengal, an injury kept him out of action. Around the same time, there was a spot that needed filling in a local team. Sourav, who was still seen more as a student with a passion for football and cricket, was called in to replace his elder brother almost as a temporary option.
But what happened next changed Indian cricket forever.
Sourav impressed right from the start. His natural timing, calm confidence, and hunger to prove himself were visible even at a young age. That one chance opened the door to more opportunities in club cricket, then Bengal, then India under-19s and eventually to the Indian team in 1996.
Had Snehasish not been injured at that crucial moment, Sourav may have taken longer to get his break, or perhaps might have followed a different path entirely. That’s how fine the margins can be in cricket and in life.
Brothers Beyond the Field
There’s no rivalry between the two Ganguly brothers. Snehasish has always been supportive of Sourav’s journey. Even though he stayed away from the limelight, he played a role behind the scenes as a guide, an advisor, and now as an administrator. In recent years, he has served as a key figure in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), where he continues to contribute to the game’s growth in the state.
Sourav has often acknowledged his brother’s influence. In fact, it was Snehasish who pushed for better training facilities, and it was under his encouragement that Sourav began taking cricket seriously.
The Unsung Pillar
In every cricket legend’s story, there are people who help shape the journey quietly, away from the camera flashes. Snehasish Ganguly is one such name – a man who loved the game, gave it his all, and unknowingly helped Indian cricket discover one of its greatest captains.
He may not have worn the India jersey himself, but his impact is stitched into the very fabric of Indian cricket history. Sometimes, it takes a missed chance to create history and in this case, an injury to one brother gave rise to the legacy of another.
