- Saurav Ganguly (1998-2004) – 665 runs (3 centuries and 3 half centuries)
Saurav Ganguly is the top Indian scorer in the tournament’s history and occupies the fourth position in the overall top performers with the bat, just behind Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardane and Kumara Sangakkara.
He has accumulated a total of 665 runs from 11 innings (unbeaten twice) at an average of 73.88 at 83.12 strike rate. His personal best score has been an unbeaten 141* runs which came in the second semi-final encounter against South Africa at Nairobi in the year 2000. Ganguly also has 3 centuries and an equal number of half-centuries to his credit.
The second semi-final encounter took place at the Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, on 13th October, 2000. Team India, led by Saurav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat.
Losing his opening partner, Sachin Tendulkar (39, 61m, 50b, 4*4)) with just 66 runs on the board in 14.1 overs, Ganguly and Rahul Dravid teamed together to add 145 runs in 25 overs for the second wicket. This partnership took the team to 211 runs for the loss of 2 wickets, when Dravid (58, 106m, 71b, 4*9) got out.
Another 82-run partnership for the third wicket between Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh (41, 39m, 35b, 4*6) in the next 9.5 overs for the third wicket placed the team in a respectable position at 293 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 49 overs, as Yuvraj departed.
Eventually the innings got over with 295 runs on the board for the loss of 6 wickets in 50 overs. The skipper, Ganguly, having faced 142 balls in an innings of 216 minutes, notched up an unbeaten 141* runs, aided by 11 fours and 6 towering sixes.
India eventually won the match by 95 runs, restricting South Africa to 200 runs in just 41 overs.
