There are very few cricketers who have changed the face of Indian cricket the way Sourav Ganguly did. Fondly known as "Dada," which means "elder brother" in Bengali, Ganguly is more than just a former captain he is a symbol of fearless leadership and determination. On the occasion of his 54th birthday, fans received the perfect surprise as the makers of Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Biopic unveiled the first-look poster featuring Rajkummar Rao as the cricket legend.

The poster has already created massive excitement among cricket fans and movie lovers, bringing back one of the most unforgettable moments in Indian cricket history.

Rajkummar Rao Recreates Ganguly's Famous Lord's Celebration

The first-look poster features Rajkummar Rao recreating Sourav Ganguly's legendary shirtless celebration at the Lord's balcony. Standing shirtless and waving a blue jersey in the air, the actor perfectly mirrors the former Indian captain's iconic celebration after India's historic win in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final against England.

The title Dada appears in bold blue at the top of the poster, making the image even more striking. Within moments of its release, the poster grabbed attention across social media, with fans praising Rajkummar's transformation into one of India's greatest cricket icons.

Sourav Ganguly Calls It the 'Best Gift Ever'

Sourav Ganguly himself shared the first-look poster on Instagram and expressed his excitement about the film.

"The Best Gift Ever! Can't wait to see you play my cover drive! @rajkummar_rao," he wrote while sharing the poster.

The heartfelt message quickly won over fans, who are now eagerly waiting to see Rajkummar Rao bring Ganguly's inspiring journey to the big screen.

The Story Behind Indian Cricket's Most Iconic Celebration

The poster recreates a moment that every Indian cricket fan remembers. On July 13, 2002, India pulled off a stunning chase of 326 runs against England in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's. Young stars Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif played match-winning knocks to script one of India's greatest ODI victories.

As India sealed the unforgettable win, Ganguly celebrated by taking off his shirt and waving it from the Lord's balcony. The celebration was widely seen as a response to England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who had celebrated shirtless after England defeated India at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium earlier that year.

More than two decades later, the moment continues to be one of the most celebrated images in Indian cricket history.

The Captain Who Changed Indian Cricket Forever

Sourav Ganguly's cricket journey is filled with remarkable achievements that transformed Indian cricket forever. He announced himself on the international stage in 1996 by scoring a century on his Test debut at Lord's against England. He followed it with another hundred in his very next Test, becoming only the third batter in cricket history to score centuries in each of his first two Test matches.

Known for his elegant cover drives, Ganguly earned the nickname "God of the Off Side." However, it was his fearless captaincy that truly made him a legend.

Taking charge of the Indian team during one of its most difficult phases, Ganguly built a side that believed it could win anywhere in the world. He backed young talents such as Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Mohammad Kaif, all of whom went on to become match-winners for India.

One of his biggest milestones came in 2003 when he led India to the ICC Cricket World Cup final for the first time in two decades. Although India finished runners-up, the campaign marked the return of India as a major force in world cricket.

Across his international career, Ganguly scored more than 18,000 runs and smashed 38 international centuries. He also became India's most successful Test captain of his time with 21 Test victories. Even after being dropped from the national team in 2005, he made an inspiring comeback, proving his resilience and determination. Following his retirement, Ganguly continued serving Indian cricket as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), further strengthening his legacy.

Vikramaditya Motwane Brings Dada's Story to the Big Screen

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, Dada will trace Ganguly's extraordinary journey from a talented youngster in Kolkata to becoming one of India's most influential cricket captains.

The biopic is expected to cover the defining moments of his career, including his dream debut at Lord's, his rise as captain, memorable on-field rivalries, India's emergence as a fearless cricketing side, and his emotional comeback to international cricket after being dropped from the team.

Strong Cast to Portray Ganguly's Family

Along with Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, the film features an impressive supporting cast. Tanya Maniktala will play Ganguly's wife, Dona Ganguly, while Aparajita Adhya will portray his mother. Saswata Chatterjee has been cast as his father, Chandi Ganguly, and Rahul Dev Bose will play his elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly.

Biopic Fans Have Been Waiting For

With Rajkummar Rao stepping into the shoes of one of Indian cricket's greatest captains and Vikramaditya Motwane directing the film, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Biopic has already become one of the most anticipated sports dramas in Indian cinema.

As excitement builds, audiences will now be waiting to watch the inspiring story of "Dada" unfold on the big screen.