Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricket captain, has been endorsed by Sourav Ganguly as a potential candidate for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team. Ganguly, who led India to numerous victories during his tenure as captain, believes that Gambhir possesses the necessary qualities to guide the team to success.Gambhir, who retired from international cricket in 2018, has a proven track record as a successful coach. After a decade-long hiatus, he returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022 and led his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, to their third IPL championship. His ability to motivate and inspire players, coupled with his tactical acumen, has made him a sought-after coach.Ganguly's support for an Indian coach aligns with the recent statement made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Shah emphasized the importance of appointing a coach who has a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and has risen through the ranks. This understanding, he believes, is crucial for elevating Team India to the next level.India's chances of winning the upcoming T20 World Cup have also been discussed by Ganguly. He believes that India has a strong team with immense talent and is a serious contender for the title. The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, begins on Saturday.The appointment of a new head coach for the Indian cricket team is a significant decision that will shape the future of the team. Gautam Gambhir, with his experience as a player and coach, emerges as a strong candidate for the role. His ability to inspire players, coupled with his understanding of the Indian cricket system, makes him a suitable choice to lead the team to success.

Former Indian cricket captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has endorsed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir as a potential candidate for the role of India's head coach. Gambhir's name has emerged as a frontrunner for the position, which will become vacant after Rahul Dravid's tenure ends on June 30.Ganguly, who was instrumental in Gambhir's success as a player, believes that the former World Cup winner possesses the qualities necessary to lead the national team. "He is honest, understands the game very well, and has had success with the Knight Riders in the IPL," Ganguly said. "In Gautam, you have all the qualities you need in India's head coach."However, Ganguly acknowledged the difference between coaching a franchise and an international team. "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.Despite this, Ganguly expressed confidence in Gambhir's ability to adapt to the demands of the role. "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," he said.Gambhir's recent success as KKR mentor, guiding the team to victory in IPL 2024, further strengthens his credentials. Ganguly believes that Gambhir's strong character and cricket brain make him an ideal candidate for the job. "He is a strong character and a good cricket brain. If he does want the job, he will make a very good coach," he said.The BCCI is expected to announce the new head coach by the end of March. Gambhir's application, if submitted, will be considered alongside other potential candidates.

Indian Cricketers Urged to Relax for T20 World Cup SuccessWith the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, Indian cricketers face immense pressure to end their ICC trophy drought. Former captain Sourav Ganguly believes the team needs to adopt a more relaxed approach to achieve success.Ganguly observed that Indian players and their families often display visible signs of stress during World Cup matches. He emphasized the importance of playing with freedom and avoiding excessive pressure."We in India make this mistake of pushing too much," Ganguly said. "When I see Rohit's wife in the stands, it is evident how much pressure she is under. When I see Virat's wife, I see the kind of pressure she is feeling."Ganguly cited the 2003 World Cup final as an example of how pressure can hinder performance. "If anything, we need to relax when we are playing the big games," he said.He praised India's performance in the 2023 World Cup, where they reached the final but lost to Australia. "Despite losing the final, I will say India was the best team," Ganguly said. "We played some fantastic cricket right through the competition. If only we could be a little relaxed for the final."Ganguly urged coach Rahul Dravid to encourage a more relaxed mindset within the team. "It will be to relax a little," he said. "Just play with freedom, but also don't put too much pressure on ourselves."By embracing a relaxed approach, Ganguly believes India can overcome the pressure and achieve success in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has urged veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha to play one final match for his home state Bengal before retiring. This request comes after Saha met with Ganguly in Agartala, Tripura, where Saha currently plays for the Tripura Cricket Association.Saha, 39, joined Tripura in 2022 following a rift with officials of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). According to Tripura Cricket Association joint secretary Jayanta Dey, Ganguly expressed his desire for Saha to retire for Bengal, playing at least one last match.However, Saha has yet to request a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Tripura. Dey stated that Tripura recently granted an NOC to Sudip Chatterjee, who is set to return to Bengal, but Saha has not made such a request.It remains uncertain whether Saha will participate in the Bengal Pro T20 franchise league, which begins on June 11, as the players' draft for the teams has already been completed.Saha's meeting with Ganguly comes two years after he publicly criticized the Ganguly-led Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not selecting him for the India home Test series against Sri Lanka. Saha revealed private dressing room conversations with head coach Rahul Dravid, who had suggested he consider retirement. He also claimed that Ganguly had assured him a spot in the team.Following these revelations, Saha opted out of playing for Bengal due to concerns raised by senior official Debabrata Das about his commitment. Saha subsequently quit the Bengal team's WhatsApp group and joined Tripura. Former CAB president Avishek Dalmiya attempted to persuade Saha to return to Bengal, but he remained firm in his decision.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, now a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), recently shared heartfelt memories of his time with the team. He recalled a special moment when he received unwavering support from Kolkata fans while facing Bengal's son, Sourav Ganguly, who was leading the Pune Warriors.In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Gambhir reminisced about his arrival at KKR in 2011 and his journey from a Delhi cricketer to a beloved figure in Kolkata. Amidst the highs and lows, he described a crucial match at Eden Gardens against Pune Warriors.The stadium was a sea of conflicting allegiances, with KKR's purple and Pune's light blue dominating the stands. Ganguly, a Kolkata native, was leading Pune, while Gambhir captained KKR."A lot of people told me there would be a lot of backlash because you are replacing someone like Sourav Ganguly," Gambhir said. "But not even once in my seven years of captaincy was I made to feel that I did not belong to Kolkata."Amidst the media attention and high expectations, Gambhir revealed a heartwarming story from the pre-match build-up. As he left the team hotel for the game, a hotel employee approached him with words of consolation and support."There was this huge article on the match day where it was written that Bengal would be divided for the second time after partition," Gambhir recalled. "I remember walking out of the hotel and this guy at the gate said, 'When you walk today, when you go for the toss, just remember the entire Bengal will be only cheering for you because KKR belongs to Kolkata and you will not walk alone today.'"Gambhir carried that thought with him to the toss and throughout the match. He found strength in the unwavering support of the Kolkata fans, despite the initial doubts."The people of Kolkata have walked with me and that's the strength I got from Kolkata," he said. "That's the reason that when I come back to Kolkata, it is always about giving back to them."Gambhir's KKR will play for a spot in the final when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rohit Sharma's underwhelming IPL 2024 campaign has raised concerns among fans and experts alike. The Indian skipper has struggled to find his form, averaging just over 29 with a strike rate of around 145 in 13 matches. This has contributed to Mumbai Indians' dismal performance, with the team winning only 4 out of 13 matches and being the first to be eliminated from the playoffs race.However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly remains unfazed by Rohit's recent form. Ganguly believes that the veteran batter has a proven track record in big tournaments and will deliver for the national side in the upcoming T20 World Cup. "India is a very good team. Rohit will play well in the World Cup. He plays well in big tournaments. At the big stage, he will be fine," Ganguly said at a recent event.Rohit's loss of captaincy to Hardik Pandya at Mumbai Indians has also been a topic of discussion. There have been reports of a possible rift between the two Indian cricket team stars. Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram even predicted that Rohit may not be at Mumbai Indians next season. "I have a feeling, he won't be at Mumbai Indians next season. I would love to see him at KKR. Imagine him open there, Gauti as a mentor, Iyer as a captain. They will have a very strong batting, at that wicket (Eden Gardens). He bats very well on any wicket, he is that great a player. But it will be good to see him at KKR," Akram said.Despite the concerns surrounding Rohit's form and the rumors of a rift with Pandya, Ganguly remains confident in the Indian skipper's ability to lead the team to success in the T20 World Cup. Rohit's experience and big-match temperament will be crucial for India's chances of lifting the trophy.

Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, has expressed his confidence in Rishabh Pant's leadership abilities, stating that the young captain will continue to refine his skills with time and experience.Pant, who recently returned to competitive cricket after a severe car accident in December 2022, has resumed his duties as the Delhi Capitals captain. Ganguly believes that Pant's instinctive decision-making and ability to adapt on the field are valuable assets."Pant is a young captain, he'll learn with time," Ganguly said. "The way he returned from injury to play a full season; we had our doubts during the off season."Ganguly also highlighted the importance of Indian players in the TATA IPL, especially with the expansion to 10 teams. He expressed his admiration for Pant's resilience and determination to return to form after his injury."Indian players are crucial, especially since the TATA IPL shifted to 10 teams. I am very happy for him that he returned to play so well over a full season. He has all my well wishes for whatever is next," Ganguly added.While acknowledging that Pant has made some mistakes as a captain, Ganguly believes that he will continue to improve with experience. "With time, he'll become a better captain. Nobody is a great captain from day one, but he is an instinctual captain, he makes decisions on the ground. With more time, he'll get better."Ganguly also praised the performances of young pacers Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Dar Salam, who have impressed for Delhi Capitals this season."You've seen Rasikh's development over time. The more matches he played, the better he got. It's not easy to bowl on the Delhi wicket. This wicket is great, and the ground isn't that big, so I think for any bowler, it isn't easy to bowl here. Rasikh has improved a lot."Mukesh has been our best bowler this season. He bowls all the difficult overs, whether at the start or at the death. There has been no match this season where we didn't need his bowling in the death," he said."We knew that conceding sixes would lead to more losses, so he has consistently delivered there. Our Indian bowlers have been great this season."

Sourav Ganguly's Respectful Gesture Towards Virat Kohli Mends Past DifferencesIn a heartwarming display of reconciliation, former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli put aside their past differences during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals.After RCB's 35-run victory, Ganguly, the Delhi Capitals mentor, approached Kohli to shake his hand. However, in a gesture that left fans on social media impressed, Ganguly removed his cap as a mark of respect.This gesture was a stark contrast to the strained relationship between the two icons in recent years. Last year, reports emerged of a rift between them, fueled by on-field incidents during the IPL.However, the handshake and Ganguly's respectful gesture suggest that the hatchet has been buried. Fans on social media praised Ganguly's actions, highlighting the respect Kohli commands."Sourav Ganguly took his cap off before meeting Virat Kohli. That's the respect Kohli has," tweeted one user."Good to see them meeting each other after the issues they had in the past," added another.The reconciliation between Ganguly and Kohli is a positive sign for Indian cricket. It shows that even the greatest players can overcome differences and work together for the betterment of the sport.In the match itself, RCB's victory boosted their playoff qualification hopes. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, saw their chances of reaching the playoffs diminish with the defeat.DC stand-in captain Axar Patel lamented the dropped catches that cost his team dearly. "Dropped catches hurt us. Could've restricted them to 150. When you lose four wickets in powerplay, you're always chasing the game," he said.With the defeat, DC's playoff hopes are all but over. RCB, meanwhile, will look to continue their winning ways in their remaining matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Virat Kohli's blistering 92 off 47 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 has reignited the debate over his ideal batting position for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kohli's exceptional form in the IPL makes him a prime candidate to open for India."Virat's phenomenal performances in the IPL suggest he's well-suited to open for India in the T20 World Cup," Ganguly said. "He's been in tremendous form, and his ability to score quickly and consistently at the top of the order would be a huge asset for the team."However, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden initially expressed reservations about Kohli opening for India. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a right-left combination at the top of the order."No, they shouldn't do that," Hayden said. "You definitely need a left-right combination at the top."But Hayden quickly proposed an intriguing alternative: a reshuffle in the batting order."If you have to make a change in that combination, I would be very happy if you would tell me if I could open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would have said absolutely yes," Hayden said.Hayden suggested Kohli open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4. He highlighted Kohli's prowess in the powerplay overs and Rohit's success batting lower down the order."Look at his figures at No. 4, they are superb," Hayden said of Rohit. "Those are better than his opening numbers."As the T20 World Cup approaches, the debate surrounding Kohli's optimal batting position adds an intriguing dimension to India's strategy and selection discussions. With opinions divided among cricketing experts, it remains to be seen where Kohli will bat for India in the tournament.