Heads Dada wins, tails Ponting loses: When Sourav Ganguly pranked Australian captain at toss with 'head-tail' call

Sourav Ganguly, widely regarded as one of India's most influential cricket captains, had a knack for memorable moments during his illustrious career. Known for his antics both on and off the field, Ganguly's legacy includes incidents like making Steve Waugh wait at the toss and celebrating shirtless on the Lord's balcony. His relationships with coaches and teammates were often tumultuous, as he clashed with Greg Chappell and John Buchanan, had arguments with Shane Warne, and even refused to walk after Graeme Smith claimed a catch.

However, former Australia captain Michael Clarke offers a lighter glimpse into Ganguly's personality through an anecdote in his book, 'Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians.' Clarke recalls an incident during a toss in India involving Ganguly and Ricky Ponting, though he does not specify which match it was. Clarke recounts that as Ponting held the coin for the flip, Ganguly, according to Clarke, declared, 'Head-Tail'.

Intrigued, Clarke recounts that Ponting couldn't understand what had transpired due to Ganguly's rapid utterance of 'Head-Tail'. By the time Ponting grasped the situation, the coin had landed. Ganguly then picked it up, declared, "We'll bat," and walked off. With India winning the toss and choosing to bat, Ponting reportedly found himself at a loss on how to respond in the dressing room.

Clarke, however, admits he cannot recall the exact match in which this incident occurred. Records indicate that Ganguly won five tosses against Ponting, all outside India - two during the 2003 World Cup and three in the 2003-04 VB Series.