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Team India’s campaign under the strong leadership of Sourav Ganguly at the ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2003 in South Africa remains one of the most iconic journeys in the country’s cricketing history.
India’s memorable journey in the ODI World Cup 2003
Despite starting on a cautious note with a narrow win against the Netherlands and suffering a heavy blow with a demoralizing defeat to Australia in the early stages, the team showed exceptional grit and determination under the leadership of Ganguly. What followed was an inspiring turnaround. India won eight consecutive matches on the trot, defeating formidable opponents like England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, thereby storming into the final with momentum and belief.
While the final saw Australia once again dominate India, the campaign as a whole was a defining moment in Indian cricket’s modern era. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan emerged as household names, and the team earned massive admiration for their courage, consistency, and unity on the global stage. One of the biggest talking points surrounding India’s World Cup squad selection in 2003 was the exclusion of VVS Laxman. Despite being hailed as one of the finest batters of his generation, famed for his silken stroke play and match-defining performances, Laxman never got the chance to represent India at a World Cup.
Laxman’s omission from the squad for the 2003 edition in South Africa came as a shock to many fans and cricketing pundits alike. While the selectors opted for Dinesh Mongia, citing better adaptability to limited-overs demands, the emotional toll it took on Laxman was significant. His ODI form at the time, 1240 runs at an average of 27.55 and a strike rate of 67.02, was deemed not up to the evolving pace of the one-day format, especially in overseas conditions.
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Sourav Ganguly breaks silence on WC 2003 snub of Indian cricket icon
In a candid interview with PTI, former captain Ganguly opened up about the emotional aftermath of that selection decision. He revealed how deeply VVS Laxman was hurt by the snub, and how it strained their personal rapport. Ganguly further elaborated that he eventually made amends with his long-time teammate, and emphasized that the decision was never personal—it was purely based on team balance and strategic needs.
“It has happened many times when we rested players. They were unhappy. Laxman being left out of the World Cup…he never spoke to me for three months. Then I made up with him. Anybody would get upset…for a World Cup. Especially a player of Laxman’s calibre. Quite natural that he would get upset. After we finished the World Cup, he was happy that we did well,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by the PTI.
What followed post-World Cup, however, was a classic case of redemption. Laxman made a resounding comeback to the ODI side and proved his critics wrong with stellar performances. He was particularly instrumental in India’s historic series victory in Pakistan in 2004, which remains one of the nation’s most celebrated overseas triumphs. Laxman also impressed during the Australia tour around that time, showcasing his adaptability across formats. By the end of his ODI career, Laxman had accumulated 2338 runs in 86 matches at an average of 30.76 with a strike rate of 71.23, including six centuries.
“When we came back, he returned to the ODI system. He played an outstanding series in Pakistan and Australia. We won in Pakistan for the first time ever, and VVS was very instrumental. They knew at the back of their mind that it was never personal,” Ganguly concluded.
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