The night Sourav Ganguly's 135* turned a tricky chase into a one-man show

There are knocks that win matches, and then there are knocks that define eras. On May 30, 2000, under the Dhaka lights, Sourav Ganguly produced one of the most brutal batting displays in Asia Cup history - a 135 not out off 124 balls, peppered with 6 boundaries and 7 towering sixes.

It was a masterclass in controlled aggression, and it reminded the continent that India's new captain was also a destroyer-in-chief with the bat.

The stage in Dhaka

Bangladesh, still shaping its identity in international cricket, demonstrated unexpected resilience. Led by Akram Khan's brisk 64 off 52 balls and Habibul Bashar's steady 57 off 96, they posted a competitive 249 for 6 in 50 overs. For a side still finding its rhythm, it was a clear statement of intent.

Credit: ESPN

India's bowlers - Thirunavukkarasu Kumaran with 3/54 and Tendulkar with 2/24 - kept things in check, but the target of 250 on a slow pitch appeared quite respectable and was likely to test the visitors. However, what followed was a near single-handed demolition orchestrated by Ganguly.

Dada in full flight

Opening with Tendulkar, Ganguly wasted no time asserting dominance. While Tendulkar blazed a quickfire 36 off 25 balls, Ganguly took charge after his partner's dismissal. Hemang Badani's 35 provided stability, but it was Ganguly's onslaught that made the chase appear almost laughably easy.

Credit: ESPN

His innings was a study in balance - the elegance of square drives mixed with the audacity of 7 sixes launched into the Dhaka night. The most telling statistic was not just the 135 runs but the strike rate of 108.87, blistering for an ODI innings at the turn of the millennium.

By the time Mohammad Azharuddin joined him for an unbeaten 35, the contest was already over. India reached 252 for 2 in 40.1 overs, sealing an emphatic eight-wicket win with 59 balls to spare.

Breaking it down in numbers

Ganguly’s 135* remains his highest score in the Asia Cup and one of the finest ODI innings of his career.

He reached his half-century in just 52 balls and his century in 104 deliveries, before accelerating aggressively in the final stages.

Credit: News 18

India’s run-rate of 6.27 per over in this chase was driven almost entirely by his controlled aggression.

His total of 7 sixes was among the highest hit by an Indian in an ODI at the time, symbolising his willingness to muscle bowlers out of the attack contest.

Why this knock mattered

At the dawn of the 2000s, Indian cricket was in a state of transition. A young Sachin Tendulkar carried the weight of expectations, but India needed another leader to set the tone. Ganguly’s innings was more than a hundred — it was a statement of intent, a reminder that he was ready to carry the side not just with his captaincy but also with the bat.

Credit: indiatvnews

For Bangladesh, the innings was a harsh baptism. Their bowlers — Mushfiqur Rahman (1/59) and Enamul Haque (1/28) — had no answers to Ganguly’s clean hitting. The gap in class was underlined by how effortlessly India hunted down what appeared to be a fighting total.

When Indian fans look back at milestones of the Asia Cup, Ganguly’s 135* in 2000 stands out not just as a statistical gem but as an innings of swagger, confidence, and command. It was the knock that proved Dada wasn’t just the team’s heartbeat — he was its roar.