Cricket is a captain's game, says Sourav Ganguly
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Cricket Advisory Committee(CAC) member Sourav Ganguly has once again suggested that cricket is a captain's game and the coach is just there to help the skipper. Ganguly also elaborated on the skills required to become a good coach that included man-management and situation understanding skills.
Sourav Ganguly who is the member of the 3-member Cricket Advisory Committee alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman had earlier stated that the game of cricket revolves around the captain and the coach is just there to help the skipper from the sidelines. The 44-year old reiterated his statement while quoting the skills the committee will be looking for while interviewing the prospects for the post of the Indian coach other than a fancy presentation.
“I think cricket is a captain’s game. The coach should be someone who can help and get the team going. An impressive presentation does not make you a good coach. Various things are needed to make a good coach – like man-management skill, situation-understanding skill. Maybe someone will be better skill-wise but will lack at man-management. You just have to move on," Ganguly told ANM News.
The 44-year old also stated that the committee would do everything in its power for the betterment of Indian cricket as they did while appointing Anil Kumble under whom the Men in Blue rose to No. 1 rankings in Tests after a successful home season and reached the final of the recently concluded Champions Trophy.
“We will do whatever we think is good for the Indian cricket. We did the same in appointing Kumble as well. He also gave us results. We played in the final of the Champions Trophy. We will try and do our best,” Ganguly added.
Ganguly further explained the CAC's year-old decision of appointing Kumble as the head coach.
"India’s strength is spin. So we thought he would be able to help our spinners. We thought Anil would handle it properly, having played at the top level for so many years and becoming successful.”
When questioned about the rift that emerged between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and former coach Anil Kumble Ganguly replied, "This is normal in life when you are together somewhere there will be a difference of opinions. Even at work, you have differences. You just have to deal with it,"
The CAC have to choose a new coach for the Indian team before the Men in Blue depart to Sri Lanka for a full tour which will commence on July 21. The applicants for the post include former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, two-time Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody, former Afghanistan head coach Lalchand Rajput, Dodda Ganesh and the recent addition to the list was ex-director of team India Ravi Shastri.
Sehwag's name grabbed the headlines after it was reported that the former Indian batsman had sent a two-line CV for the post. However, Sehwag dismissed the reports and Ganguly confirmed his former teammate's claims.
“I’ve seen Sehwag’s CV and it’s not a two-liner one. He has a complete CV. But can you become the India coach by sending a CV?”.
“Coach is made on the ground. And he is Sehwag, a known personality. Everyone knows him and his cricketing skills. He’s not someone who has come from Midnapore district of West Bengal,” he said and added, “So I don’t think it’s an issue. We will sit, talk and finalise. Difficult to take a name at the moment.”
