Former India captain Sourav Ganguly once believed he was playing the final Test of his career before responding in the best possible fashion – by scoring a match-saving century.

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta recalled the incident while speaking on Doordarshan’s The Great Indian Cricket Show, revealing how Ganguly privately admitted he feared being dropped ahead of the 2002 Delhi Test against Zimbabwe after enduring a lengthy century drought.

Deep Dasgupta reveals Ganguly’s rare moment of self-doubt

Dasgupta said Ganguly rarely showed signs of insecurity despite his reputation as one of Indian cricket’s strongest personalities.

“Off the field, I have never seen him get angry or speak in a raised voice. I have also seen another side of him when things were not going well. That was an eye-opener for me because I never thought I would see that man in a situation where he was at times vulnerable, where he would question himself, asking, ‘Am I still good enough?’ I never thought I would see Sourav in that mind space, but even then, those moments where he showed vulnerability were very, very rare.”

‘This is my last Test match’

Dasgupta recalled an evening before the Delhi Test when Ganguly, who had gone nearly a year without a Test hundred, openly feared for his place in the side.

“I still remember the Zimbabwe match in 2002, in Delhi. There was a lot of talk going around because he had not scored a century in about a year. In the evening, we were sitting and having tea, and he absolutely loves his tea and biscuits.”

“While sipping his tea, he suddenly said, ‘This is my last Test match. If I do not score runs in this one, I will get dropped.’ I looked at him and said, ‘Man, what are you talking about?'”

Sourav Ganguly answered with a century

According to Dasgupta, Ganguly responded to the pressure exactly as expected – by producing a century when India needed it most.

“The next day he goes out to bat and gets a hundred. And the Zimbabwe team at that time was a very good side; it was not an easy task at all.”

“But that fighting spirit, that stubbornness of his, was brilliant. No matter what happens, he will always find a way. That is exactly why you can never count him out.”

Ganguly’s century not only silenced speculation over his place in the team but also became another example of his ability to deliver under pressure, a quality that defined both his batting career and his tenure as India’s captain.