On This Day: Sourav Ganguly's Golden Arm Shocks Pakistan in Toronto

The Sahara Friendship Cup, a highly anticipated five-match series, was being held in Toronto for the second time between long-time rivals India and Pakistan. In the previous series in 1996, Pakistan emerged victorious, but this time India was determined to turn the tables. Led by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian team showcased a perfect blend of young talent and seasoned veterans. Despite Pakistan appearing strong on paper under the leadership of Ramiz Raja, India outperformed them with stellar displays from Mohammad Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid, and Ajay Jadeja.

In the first two matches, India had already established a 2-0 lead. Ganguly's all-round contributions were crucial—he took two wickets in the second match and chipped in with 32 runs. However, it was in the third game where Ganguly truly became the hero of the series.

India batted first in the third one-dayer, managing a modest 182 for 6 in their 50 overs. The total seemed underwhelming, especially with Pakistan’s strong batting line-up, which included Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed and Saleem Malik. When Pakistan reached 79 for 2, the match appeared to be slipping away from India.

Then came Ganguly's magical spell. Introduced as the second-change bowler by captain Tendulkar, Ganguly’s medium pace worked wonders on the Toronto pitch. He broke the crucial partnership, dismissing Ijaz Ahmed and then running through Pakistan's middle order. Saleem Malik, Moin Khan and Hasan Raza all fell to Ganguly's subtle and accurate swing bowling.

From a comfortable 79 for 2, Pakistan crumbled to 126 for 8, losing seven wickets for just 47 runs. Abey Kuruvilla and Debasis Mohanty supported Ganguly by taking two wickets each, while Harvinder Singh dismissed Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 148, handing India a victory by 34 runs.

This performance marked Ganguly’s first five-wicket haul in ODIs. He would later take another five-for against Zimbabwe in 2000, but his 1997 feat remains special because it came against India’s biggest rivals. Known for his batting, Ganguly’s ability to chip in with key wickets often went under the radar. In his ODI career, he took 100 wickets in 311 matches, complementing his stellar batting career.

In the 1997 series alone, Ganguly ended up with 15 wickets at a stunning average of 10.67, making him India’s top wicket-taker of the series. He also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 222 runs at an average of 55, making him one of the standout performers in the tournament.

India’s 3-0 lead soon turned into a 4-1 series victory. The 1997 Sahara Cup is often remembered for Ganguly’s rise, both as a player and as a bowler who could deliver under pressure.