Ganga made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago on 21 February 1997, against Guyana at Queen's Park Oval aged 18. His teammates included Phil Simmons, Brian Lara, Mervyn Dillon and Ian Bishop. He only managed one half century in the series, an innings of 54 against Guyana. The following season in the West Indies Board president’s Cup 1997/98 he made his breakthrough. After making 68 against Jamaica earlier in the series but nothing else substantial, he came into Trinidad and Tobago’s final game needing a big score. Playing against Barbados, Ganga batted at number 4 and came in with his side in trouble at 3 for 33. He top scored with 138 and helped his country win the game by 1 wicket.

In August 1998, Ganga was named in the West Indies squad for their tour of South Africa. At the age of 19 he was the youngest Trinidad and Tobago player in 35 years to make the Test side. He made a half century in their opening warm up game against Griqualand West but failed against Border and South Africa.

Early international career

Ganga was named in the side for the 3rd Test at Durban and batted at 6, behind established players like Lara, Hooper and Chanderpaul. In the first innings he made 28 from 94 balls before being bowled by Shaun Pollock. He made 5 in the second and the South Africans won by 9 wickets. Scores of 17 and 16 came from Ganga in the following Test and after 4 Test innings he had been dismissed by Shaun Pollock on every occasion. Ganga kept his spot in the side for the 5th and final Test and opened the batting with Philo Wallace. He again struggled again Pollock, falling to him in both innings, first for a duck and then for 9.

After returning home he had a disappointing domestic season in 1998/99 where he made just the one score above 50. He played for the West Indies Board President's XI against the touring Australians but was not selected to play in the Test series.

In November 1999 Ganga represented the West Indies A in a game against India A before touring New Zealand. He toured New Zealand with the West Indies in December and despite making a hundred against Auckland he did not play a Test.

He appeared just once for Trinidad in 1999/2000 and captained the West Indies Under-23 side in a game against Pakistan in April. Although he failed to make double figures in the match he got another chance against them two weeks later when he got selected for the West Indies A. He made a pair of 50's and after again playing for the West Indies A, this time against South Africa, he got recalled to the West Indies squad for a tour of Australia in 2000/01. Opening the batting he had a steady, but unspectacular tour. In 4 Tests he managed a top score of just 32.

2001 to 2003

In July 2001 Ganga toured Zimbabwe with the West Indies. He had been in good form in domestic cricket for Trinidad and Tobago, scoring a century in his opening game against Barbados and making 80 against South Africa for the Busta Cup XI. The Zimbabwean tour was a success for Ganga, he started with 79 against Zimbabwe A and in the 1st Test at Bulawayo he passed 50 for the first time in Test cricket, finishing with 89. The tour concluded with a stop over in Kenya where they played 3 ODI games and a couple of first-class fixtures. Ganga made a century in the second of the two first-class games.

Later in the year the West Indies toured Sri Lanka and after contributing 47 and 33 in the 1st Test he made just 24 runs from his 4 innings in the final two Tests.

In 23 Test innings he had managed a highest score of 89 and a second highest of just 47 so when a Test series scheduled against Pakistan followed the Sri Lanka series in January 2002 he was perhaps fortunate to be included in the squad. The series took place at Sharjah due to security reasons and in the 2nd Test Ganga made 65 in the first innings.

Ganga was dropped from the team for their home series against India and was on the sidelines until a tour of Bangladesh in December. He played in both Tests, making 63 in the second and then enjoyed a full season with Trinidad and Tobago, something he had previously been unable to do due to commitments with West Indies A and under age sides.