Dodda Ganesh
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| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling style | Right-arm medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Cricinfo, 4 February 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Doddanarasiah Ganesh 
pronunciation (help·info) (born 30 June 1973, Bangalore, Karnataka) is a former Indian cricketer who played in 4 Tests and one ODI in 1997. He was a right arm seam bowler.
Ganesh failed to make an impression in his limited Test opportunities, picking up just five wickets at an average of 57.4. In first-class cricket, he took 365 wickets from 104 matches for his team Karnataka.
Early career
Dodda Ganesh started out as a wicketkeeper and an opening batsmen. His idols while growing up were Sadanand Viswanath, the Indian wicketkeeper and Ravi Shastri. Gundappa Viswanath spotted his bowling talent and enrolled him at Tarapore club. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he shifted to AV Jayaprakash's training camp where he prospered as a bowler and forced an entry into the Karnataka side.[1]
Domestic career
The 1990s was the golden era for Karnataka cricket. Due to the presence of Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, Ganesh had limited opportunities to show his talent. Despite making his debut in the 1994-95 season, Ganesh could not get a permanent slot in the Karnataka team. Coming from a humble background, he was helped by kind team-mates and well-wishers. Jayaprakash waived the tuition fees and gave him a bat, Srinath would get him a pair of shoes from abroad, Kumble would give him clothes and, while in the MRF Pace Academy, Prasad would translate in Kannada for him.
It was in the Irani Trophy in 1996-97 where he picked up 11 wickets, including V. V. S. Laxman and Navjot Singh Sidhu, that he stormed into national reckoning. After this performance he was selected for the Indian cricket team's tour of South Africa.
International career
Ganesh made his international debut in the 2nd test against South Africa at Cape Town. He bowled 24 overs in his first innings without any success. He took his first test wicket in the second innings when trapped Gary Kirsten leg before wicket. India suffered a huge defeat in this game. He kept his place for the next test at Johannesburg. He just bowled 9 overs in the game, as South Africa hung on for a draw.
Despite not having a brilliant tour, he was selected for the West Indies tour in 1997. During the 3rd test at Barbados, he picked up 4 wickets including Carl Hooper in both innings. Despite having only 120 runs to chase, India stumbled in the 2nd innings to be all out for 81. Ganesh played one more rain affected test at Guyana.
Later career
Ganesh returned to the Karnataka side and became the bowling mainstay. Over a long career, he took 365 wickets. His batting became more valuable over the years and also scored a hundred for Karnataka.
After Cricket
Dodda Ganesh had expressed an interest in politics. He later joined Janata Dal (Secular) led by former Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda.