Dada confident to avoid Chappell saga
Entrusted with the responsibility of picking India's next chief coach, former captain Sourav Ganguly said that he will not "mess up" as he did once when he recommended Australian Greg Chappell's name in 2005.
Ganguly and Chappell shared a frosty relationship during two turbulent years in country's cricket, a time when one of India's celebrated captain was removed from the top job.
"I once had an opportunity to select the coach. I thought I messed it up in 2005 (during Chappell's recruitment). I have been given that opportunity again. I had taken an interview (Chappell) once and it did not go off well," Ganguly said during the launch of his book 'A Century Is Not Enough'.
Ganguly hoped that the Cricket Advisory Committee will do it correctly. "Hopefully, we will do it correctly this time, whoever it is... luckily, I've got support in Sachin, VVS, the BCCI secretary (Ajay Shirke) and the president (Anurag Thakur). Together, we will pick the right person," said Ganguly.
Ganguly accepted that being the coach of the Indian team did cross his mind a couple of years back.
"To be honest, two and half years ago, I was thinking myself whether I would want this job. Now today, I'm selecting one. That's how life is. I have not given interview, hopefully I will give (the interview) one day..."
"In life nothing is guaranteed, nobody knows what will happen one or two years later. Nobody thought I would be president of CAB and hosting a World Twenty20 final. That's how life is, and you have to deal it."
The former skipper said that he spent a sleepless night on Monday on the eve of coach's interview, somewhat similar to the feeling before his Test debut against England at the lord's in 1996.
"Yesterday night, I was not getting sleep when everyone was sleeping. I saw it (his hundred at the lord's) on YouTube — a 12-minute video — and I fell asleep after that. I felt happy."
"I am a normal human being, who wanted to do well in a profession, which I loved the most. That afternoon (at the lord's) made me believe if I work hard, I've got it in me to play for next 10 years.
"When I got my first Test hundred at the lord's, I still remember the press conference. The first question was, 'you answered your critics, what do you have to tell about thatIJ' But the first thing that came to my mind is that I belonged at this level."
Dada's diary
When Sourav Ganguly wielded the willow, he could effortlessly loft spinners into stands and now one can expect similar fireworks from one of India's most celebrated captains who is writing a book based on his times in the Indian dressing room.
Famed for his never-say-die attitude, the mercurial left handed batsman has collaborated with senior journalist Gautam Bhattacharya for his first book 'A Century Is Not Enough', which is expected to hit the stands soon.
Publishers have dubbed the narrative as "frank, colourful and completely inspiring."
In the book "Ganguly talks us through the challenges of a cricketer, the hard times and the battles he has faced and shows us what it truly means to be a champion," they said.
Ganguly himself is delighted to open the new innings. "I am extremely delighted to associate myself with Juggernaut and jointly we expect to deliver a great book," he said in a statement.
The life and career of the 43-year-old Kolkata born cricketer affectionately known as 'Dada' has for most people embodied success and achievement.
After blazing into international Test debut by scoring a century at lord's transformed the Indian team under his captaincy, broke Australia's unbeaten streak in Test cricket and taking India to the 2003 World Cup final.
And yet alongside this success have come tremendous challenges and hurdles, more so than to any Indian cricketer of his generation. The book dwells on What drives a champion to keep onIJ How did Ganguly stay motivated and focusedIJ And what made him never, ever give upIJ
Publisher Chiki Sarkar said, "Ganguly is one of India's greatest captains, and one of the most interesting cricketers we have ever produced. We believe 'A Century Is Not Enough' will become a book that readers — and not just cricket fans — will turn to again and again."