In a recent interaction with Times of India former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly shared his intentions of becoming the coach of the Indian national cricket team.
Sourav said, “You should do what you can and not thinking about the outcome. You never know where life goes, you never know where life will take you. I went to Australia in 1999, I wasn’t even the vice-captain. Sachin (Tendulkar) was the captain and in three months I became the captain of India.”
During the India Today Conclave East 2017, Ganguly said, “When I got into administration, I was desperate to be the coach of the national side. (Jagmohan) Dalmiya called me and said ‘why don’t you try for six months’. He passed away and none was around, so I became the CAB president. People take 20 years to become president. You have to live for the day.”
Sourav Ganguly played his last international match in 2008 against Australia. In 2007 Ganguly scored his maiden Test double century by scoring 235 against Pakistan in Bangalore.
After making an international comeback in 2006, Ganguly scored a lot of runs in Test cricket and ODIs as well. Talking about his retirement announcement, Ganguly said, “As I announced retirement in 2008, Sachin came at lunch and asked me ‘why did you take such a decision?’ I said because I don’t want to play anymore. He then said ‘this is the best time to see you play in such flow. Last three years had been your best’.”
He further added, “I retired because at some point you’ve had enough. The reason is not that you have had enough of playing the sport but because you’ve had enough of getting selected all the time. I remember those days and think individual sports is a lot better when you are not dependent on the team.”
Terming the Chappell saga as an eye-opener that made him a better person, Ganguly said: “Before that, from 1995-2006, the graph was only up. I never missed a series. I was captain of India for six years. The world was at my feet until 2006.”