Sourav Ganguly almost took Pretoria Capitals (PC) all the way on his coaching debut. The former Indian captain took over from Jonathan Trott after PC finished dead last in the 2024-25 SA20. Beginning a new journey, Ganguly got off to the worst possible start.
Capitals turn it around under Ganguly
PC commenced the 2025-26 SA20 with two losses. It wasn’t until the Capitals beat MI Cape Town that Ganguly registered himself on the board. The next two matches weren’t great. A washout followed by a 10-wicket hammering to eventual champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC).
At the halfway mark of the group stage, PC had just 1 win from 5 matches. The Ganguly move wasn’t looking so good. But the Prince of Bengal wasn’t going down easily. Losing wasn’t an option for him during his career, and he brought that same energy to coaching.
PC went on a spree from there. They won four of the next five matches and finished second in the SA20 points table. PC faced SEC in Qualifier 1 and qualified for the final. The trophy was closer than ever. In the final, they faced the SEC again.
“As a team, it’s simple. You play well. We as coaches don’t play anymore. We were quality players in our time, but we don’t go out into the middle and hit those sixes anymore. The players do that,” Ganguly said before the final.
SA20 trophy slips out of hand
159 didn’t look to be a competitive total. And they got there after Dewald Brevis‘ 101-run knock. But PC had SEC 48/4 in 8.4 overs. The game looked to be in the bag.
But Tristan Stubbs and Matthew Breetzke had other ideas. The duo remained unbeaten and chased the total in the last over. After them, it was just Marco Jansen. All PC needed was one wicket to break through, but it never happened.
Despite the heartbreak, Ganguly has gotten PC back on track after a disappointing last season. It also proved his pedigree as a coach. He’s worked as a director of cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Delhi Capitals and might just don a role for them in the coming years.
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