'Virat Kohli can go to Oxford Street shirtless' - Sourav Ganguly hilariously tells Amitabh Bachchan to not 'challenge' Indian skipper

One of the most poignant moments in the history of Indian cricket is the team’s famous win over England in the Natwest series final in the year 2002. In a run-chase of 326, India were down out, when they were reduced to 146 for five. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif had other plans and formed an epic partnership, which took the Men in Blue home. But it was the then captain Sourav Ganguly’s wild shirt celebration at the Lords stadium that the match is best remembered for.

It’s 19 years to that memorable match and still, Ganguly’s celebrations are talked by most cricket fanatics. Legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan too recalled that incident during an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, when he had Ganguly and Virender Sehwag as guests.

When Bachchan had quizzed Ganguly about that famous celebration, the BCCI president answered by saying, “My daughter once watched it and asked me why did I do it. I thought I have scored over 20, 000 runs and so many cover drives, but everybody keeps talking about the Lord’s balcony celebration.”

Bachchan, though, was not at all embarrassed by the southpaw’s shirt celebration at the Lords balcony and said that everyone loved how it gave back with a great attitude and only a bold captain could pull off such a feat.

The BCCI president though didn’t take the senior actor’s compliment like that and told the current Indian skipper Virat Kohli has enough courage to go to Oxford Street without a shirt. Like Ganguly, Kohli too wears his heart on his sleeve and is never shy to show it by his actions.

“Don’t challenge Virat Kohli. He can even go to Oxford Street without a shirt,” Ganguly said.

Amitabh Bachchan lip-read what Sourav Ganguly had said during his epic celebration

Ganguly’s animated gesture after his team’s epic win was a fitting answer to the then England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who had run amok at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While taking off his shirt, Ganguly uttered some words too, which Bachchan asked him about. The southpaw denied telling him what his words and avoided the question smartly.

The actor, though, was quick to come back to him and told he knew what Ganguly said during his animated celebration in the Natwest Final.