The makers of Dada The Sourav Ganguly Story have released the first poster of the upcoming biopic based on the life of former India captain Sourav Ganguly. The poster was unveiled on Ganguly’s birthday and gives audiences their first look at Rajkummar Rao playing the legendary cricketer. The makers also announced that the film will hit theatres on May 14, 2027.
The poster recreates one of the most unforgettable moments in Indian cricket. Rajkummar Rao is seen standing shirtless on the famous Lord’s balcony while waving the blue Team India jersey. The Indian national flag can also be seen in the background. The scene is inspired by Sourav Ganguly’s famous celebration after India defeated England in the NatWest Series final.
The historic match was played on July 13, 2002, at Lord’s in England. Chasing a target of 326, India pulled off a memorable win after young batters Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif guided the team to victory with outstanding performances. After the match, an emotional Ganguly removed his shirt and waved it from the Lord’s balcony, creating one of the most iconic images in Indian cricket history.
The celebration was also seen as a response to an earlier incident. A few months before the NatWest Series final, England all rounder Andrew Flintoff had celebrated by taking off his shirt after England defeated India at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Ganguly’s celebration at Lord’s became a symbol of confidence and aggression, qualities that defined his leadership during his time as captain.
Sourav Ganguly took over as India’s captain in 2000, when the team was going through a difficult phase. During his captaincy, he helped build a strong and fearless side by giving opportunities to young players including Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and MS Dhoni. Under his leadership, India reached the 2003 ODI World Cup final, won the 2002 NatWest Series and shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy. He also formed one of the most successful opening partnerships in One Day International cricket with Sachin Tendulkar.
Ganguly scored more than 18,000 international runs during his career and remains one of India’s most respected cricketers. Apart from his achievements with the bat, he is remembered for changing the team’s mindset and encouraging players to compete with confidence against the best teams in the world.
Sharing the poster on X, Sourav Ganguly wrote, “The Best Gift Ever! Can’t wait to see you play my cover drive!”