Much was said on social media on Thursday, when Sourav Ganguly put out a tweet on coaching. As it was known to some, it had nothing to do with Gautam Gambhir or his potential acceptance of the Indian coaching role. Rather, it was just about a brand endorsement that Ganguly does, and part of his commitment to that. So, what does he actually feel about Gambhir? Does he consider GG to be a very good option for India, as many of us do? How does he see the head-coach search panning out? Ganguly answered these questions while sipping a cup of coffee and asking for another, as we both waited for our session as part of the Goa Fest at the Westin Hotel in Mumbai.
“I don’t know whether he has applied,” asked Ganguly as I mentioned Gambhir’s name to him as a potential candidate for the head coach’s job. “Has he? If he has, he makes a very good candidate. He is honest, understands the game very well and has had success with the Knight Riders in the IPL. In Gautam, you have all the qualities you need in India’s head coach.”
But then, much has been said about Gambhir and Virat Kohli being in the same dressing room. Multiple alpha males could lead to a potential conflict as well. All of these people are headstrong, and would not want to take a backward step. Did Ganguly see that as a problem?
🚨EXCLUSIVE
“He is passionate, he is honest…he is a very good candidate.” Sourav Ganguly on Gautam Gambhir as a potential candidate for India’s head coach position after Rahul Dravid.
Watch the full interview at 12 noon.@AgeasFederal @Wowmomo4u @SGanguly99 @BoriaMajumdar… pic.twitter.com/VnpodVRMg8
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) June 1, 2024
“There is indeed a difference between coaching or mentoring a franchise, and coaching an international team, that too a high-profile team like India,” he said. “But I am sure Gautam will know it and is aware of it. He will know how to deal with stars like Virat and Rohit, and will surely adapt himself to the culture of the change room. It is not just about pushing your own thoughts. He will, I am sure, think and carry the change room with himself.”
Just as I was about to ask my next question, he stopped me in my tracks. “But Gautam will make a very good head coach,” he said. “He is a strong character and a good cricket brain. If he does want the job, he will make a very good coach.”
While there is no real clarity as to whether Gambhir has applied, and there is further speculation based on what he has said, that there is strong support for him is now known. He stays the front-runner, and it could well be that the BCCI is taking its time to finalise details before making the announcement. With the T20 World Cup upon us, it is actually the right thing to do. Any announcement now, and the focus would shift to Gambhir – that would be unfair on Rahul Dravid and the team in New York. So while we wait for things to get finalised, support for Gambhir keeps growing, with Ganguly the latest big name to endorse his candidature.