Mumbai: Former India captain and current Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member Sourav Ganguly is game for India’s head coach’s job, albeit in future. At a time when the entire cricket fraternity is looking forward to three of the Fav Five grill the fourth fab for India head coach’s post, Dada’s comments are significant.
Though the Bengal southpaw said it during a book release function, it kept people guessing. “I have never had the chance of giving an interview (for the team India coaching job). Hopefully someday will sit for it,” Ganguly said at an event while announcing the name of his book — ‘A century is not enough’.
The 43-year-old current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president went on nostalgic mode when reminded of his role to select India coach. “It’s amazing how life is. Twenty years back I first played for the country. Now I have the opportunity to select a coach. I messed it up in 2005-06 (Greg Chappell episode) and I have been given the opportunity again…Honestly two and a half years ago, I was thinking of being here myself, and now I am selecting one,” Ganguly was quoted as saying sports website XtraTime.
Ganguly apart, maestro Sachin Tendulkar and stylish VVS Laxman are learnt to have interviewed few candidates, which included Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri, in Kolkata on Tuesday. Though there was no communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the coach’s interview, well-informed sources confirmed that Kumble along with Praveen Amre and Lalchand Rajput were spotted in the Kolkata five-star during the interview process.
Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale conducted the presentation via video conferencing. Tendulkar also apparently connected via video call from London. Even Shastri couldn’t be there physically on Tuesday. Trio (Sachin, Sourav and Laxman) are to make their choice clear by later on Wednesday and that has to be ratified by the working committee meeting scheduled to be held in Dharmasala on June 24.
According to sources, the fight is between Shastri and Kumble with the former having the vote of India’s current Test skipper and batting sensation Virat Kohli. In a couple of days’ time, it will be clear who eventually clinches the hot seat.