Changed the mentality and image of the team:
After the scandal, the Indian team was not feared as much away from home and were a team that lacked confidence.
They were not able to demand respect away from home until Dada took over. Ganguly announced himself and his team in an aggressive manager going head to head against top teams at that time in Australia and England. They beat Australia at home, for the first time in many years under Ganguly as he managed to get the whole team play together for a single purpose.
Every player in the team wanted to play for him and he lead from the front making sure that the whole team would stay strong even under pressure.
Dhoni, unlike Ganguly had a team that was already taught how to absorb the pressure and with his cool personality, he was able to take over the side with relative ease. He surely has Ganguly to thank for the self-belief and confidence the team had when he took over as the skipper of the side.