Sourav Ganguly desires a return to Team India, this time as coach: 'Gautam Gambhir has started off little slow...'
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly isn't ruling out the idea of coaching the Indian men's team. Ganguly, who has worn multiple hats post-retirement, from commentator to BCCI president, said he's 'open' to taking on the role in the future. Sourav Ganguly (L) hasn't ruled out a possibility of reuniting with Team India(PTI/ANI)
'I never really thought about it because I got into different roles,' Ganguly told PTI.
'I finished (competitive cricket) in 2013 and then became Board (BCCI) President. We'll see what the future holds. I'm just 50 (53), so let's see what happens. I'm open to it. We'll see where it goes.'
Ganguly, who has been Team Director at Delhi Capitals between 2018-19 and 2022-24, believes his biggest contribution to Indian cricket in administration came in the women's game. 'I got into different roles… but I think my biggest contribution was to promote women's cricket,' he said.
While the topic of a future coaching role remains open, Ganguly was firm on another front, politics. 'I am not interested,' he said when asked whether he would consider joining a political party ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. Even when asked if he would consider it if promised the post of Chief Minister, Ganguly replied again with a smile: 'I am not interested.' Ganguly on Gambhir
The former captain also gave a measured endorsement of Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as head coach earlier this year. 'Gautam (Gambhir) is doing a good job,' Ganguly said. 'He started off a little slow, losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with the Champions Trophy. This is going to be a big series (vs England).'
Ganguly was asked whether Gambhir, his former teammate, is a strong tactician. 'I haven't seen him from very close in this role, but I know he is very passionate. I haven't observed his strategies closely because I haven't worked with him as a coach,' he said.
'He's very straightforward, he sees things clearly, and he's very open about what he feels — about the team, players, people, everything. From the outside, you can tell he's a very transparent person — what you see is what you get.'
Ganguly recalled playing alongside Gambhir during their international days. 'He was a great guy with a lot of respect for me and the senior players. Even now, I can see he is extremely passionate about his job.'
'I wish him all the best,' Ganguly added. 'He's just a year into the job, and this will be an important (England) tour. He struggled a bit in Australia, but just like everyone else, he'll learn, he'll grow, and he'll become better.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
ENG vs IND: Why India and England players wore black armbands today?
India and England players wore black armbands to pay their respect to former fast bowler David Lawrence, who passed away on Sunday. He was 61. Lawrence, who was affectionately known as Syd', played five Tests (18 wickets) and a lone ODI (4 wickets) for England between 1988 and 1992. Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to represent England, was battling motor neurone disease (MND) since last year. Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David 'Syd' Lawrence, who has sadly passed away. There was a moment's applause before the start of play on Day 3, the BCCI said in a statement. Lawrence was diagnosed with the disease in 2024, a degenerative condition that affects the brain and nerves, leading to muscle wastage and there is no known cure to it. He had also authored a book Syd's Voice' to create awareness about MND and was involved in charity to raise funds for other patients. A Gloucestershire legend, Lawrence amassed 515 wickets from 185 First-Class matches and 155 wickets from 113 List A games. A promising bowler with extreme pace of his time, Lawrence's international career ended when he suffered a serious kneecap injury while bowling against New Zealand at Wellington in 1992.
India Today
36 minutes ago
- India Today
Watch: Rishabh Pant throws ball in anger after umpire declines ball change request
Rishabh Pant could be fined for showing dissent on Day 3 of the Leeds Test agianst England. Pant left umpire Paul Reiffel stunned with his reaction after he denied a request for change of ball from the vice-captain in the first session oon Sunday. Pant flung the ball onto the ground, not hiding his frustration at the denied players kept waRishabh Pant could face disciplinary action for showing dissent during Day 3 of the first Test against England in Leeds. The Indian vice-captain left umpire Paul Reiffel visibly stunned after reacting angrily when a request to change the ball was turned down during the first session on Sunday. Pant flung the ball to the ground, openly displaying his players had repeatedly approached the on-field umpires, arguing that the shape of the ball had changed. Jasprit Bumrah was the first to speak to umpire Chris Gaffaney about the issue. | Leeds Test, Day 3 updates | As the ball neared the 60-over mark, Pant was seen requesting Paul Reiffel to check the shape using the gauge. Reiffel used the gauge, and the ball passed through without any issue, prompting him to deny the request. Pant urged the umpire to recheck it, but Reiffel stood by his his way back to his fielding position, Pant hurled the ball into the ground in frustration—an action that visibly shocked Reiffel. The packed Sunday crowd at Headingley also reacted with surprise as Pant appeared flustered following the Flamboypant Media (@flamboypantedit) June 22, 2025advertisementJust two overs later, captain Shubman Gill made another attempt, approaching Gaffaney with a similar request to change the ball. That, too, was turned Indian bowlers had a tough time extracting swing or seam movement on the third morning. Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack early, attempting to exploit the rough for the breakthroughs came from pacers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in the first session. Overnight batter Ollie Pope, who resumed on 106, was the first to depart. In the 52nd over of England's innings, he was undone by a delivery from Prasidh that climbed on him unexpectedly. Attempting a cut shot, Pope edged it cleanly to Pant, who completed the then removed captain Ben Stokes, who was miffed with himself after wasting a solid start. Stokes was caught behind in the 65th over for Brook, who had been given a reprieve late on Day 2, took an aggressive approach against the fast bowlers, quickly racing past 40 and adding to the Indian bowlers' mounting Pant's on-field reaction may draw scrutiny from the match officials, the wicketkeeper-batter has been setting records in Leeds. On Saturday, he scored his seventh Test hundred and later reached the milestone of 150 catches in Test cricket—becoming only the third Indian wicketkeeper after MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani to achieve the feat. You May Also Like
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Pant refined defence post-Australia tour: Childhood coach Devender Sharma
After an underwhelming tour to Australia marked by poor shot selection, Rishabh Pant has begun the series against England in an emphatic fashion, scoring a hundred at Leeds to showcase his extraordinary talent. Devender Sharma, one of Pant's childhood coaches alongside the late Tarak Sinha, attributed the resurgence to the work the wicketkeeper batter has put in on his defence and shot selection. "After he failed in Australia, he made a lot of changes to his defensive techniques and curbed his stroke play, which you also saw in the match. Pant is a match-winner," Sharma told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview. "Before he went to England, we discussed his defense because his Australia tour didn't go well. We decided he would play fewer strokes and focus more on batting there. England's conditions are different; there's more movement," he added. The effort Pant has put in behind the scenes were evident in the dazzling array of shots he played en route a magnificent 134 in the first Test in Leeds. During his knock, Pant also went past MS Dhoni for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket, bringing up his seventh ton on the second day of the series opener against England. This isn't Pant's first hundred in England, for he had struck one during the team's last tour of that country. The coach attributed Pant's success in England's challenging conditions to his unique ability to "bat with ample time" and play from a "slightly deeper position." "He scored a hundred last time in England as well. He has a lot of time when he bats, which is a factor that makes him successful in England. Playing in the second line gives him a significant advantage," he asserted. Pant struck a six off the first ball of the 100th over of India's first innings, clearing the fence off Shoaib Bashir to bring up the milestone. He completed 3,000 Test runs during his innings and has 15 fifties in 44 matches and averages nearly 44. Sharma sees Pant as an all-format player. "I feel that Rishabh is a player who can play all three formats. He isn't in the team right now, but I believe he will come back after his IPL failure. If you're a good player, you'll perform." It was his first century since September 2024 when he scored 109 against Bangladesh at Chennai.
