New Delhi, Former skipper Sourav Ganguly today preferred to remain tight-lipped on whether he is a possible contender for next coach of the Indian cricket team, saying “let’s not speculate”. Ganguly’s reaction came after reports emerged that he is in the race to become the new India coach and has put in an informal word to the new BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya about his interest to replace Duncan Fletcher, whose tenure ended after the World Cup.
“I am hearing this for the first time,” was Ganguly’s reaction when asked about whether he is in the fray to be the next coach. “I don’t want to say anything on this. Let’s not speculate. Don’t jump the gun,” he added. According to reports, a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official said that Ganguly has expressed his willingness to become the coach to new BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.
But the cricketer-turned-administrator has rejected the development. Asked whether he had a word with Dalmiya on this front, Ganguly said: “No, who says all this? They (BCCI) haven’t spoken to anyone and neither have I spoken to them. That’s the truth and let’s stick to that,” he said.
The report also states that a section of the BCCI wants Rahul Dravid to be the next coach. Ganguly said both he and Dravid have the abilities to do the job. “Both can be (good coaches). Rahul was a great player,” he said.