Picking Sourav Ganguly as vice-captain was a tougher job, coach said he drank too much coke: Former selector Ashok Malhotra

Sourav Ganguly, the captain who changed the way people used to look at Indian Cricket. The captain who looked the opposition straight into the eye and made his team by embracing the young talent and nurture them to become a world champion one day.

Ganguly became captain of Indian team right after the match-fixing saga, the most difficult and dark days of Indian Cricket. Spectators lost their interest in Indian cricket and people who were heroes became a villain all of a sudden. By bringing NatWest trophy home in 2002 and giving opportunities to young talent in the early 2000s, Ganguly’s captaincy was in praise everywhere.

However, it was not an easy road for the Bengal Tiger to become the captain of Team India, even becoming vice-captain to Sachin Tendulkar was not easy as a former Indian coach was apprehensive of bringing him into a leadership role.

Ashok Malhotra, Indian Cricketers’ Association chief and former selector revealed that there was a resistance in the management of making him vice-captain as there were a lot of players who were senior to Ganguly in the dressing room.

None of us knew Ganguly would become the captain: Ashok Malhotra

“If I remember correctly, picking Sourav Ganguly as vice-captain was a tougher job. I remember we picked him in Calcutta and the coach had some things to say – drinks too much Coke, takes singles but not twos, etc. In the bargain, I said having a Thumbs Up does not disqualify him as a vice-captain,” Malhotra, who was the part of the selection panel, told Sportskeeda in a Facebook live session.

Malhotra also revealed that former Indian captain Anil Kumble and Ajay Jadeja were ahead of Sourav among the frontrunners of becoming the vice-captain.

“None of us knew Sourav Ganguly would become the captain because Sachin was the captain then. But once he resigned, we had to convince everyone to make him captain because Anil Kumble and Ajay Jadeja were in line. I had to work overtime,” Malhotra said.

Former Bengal Coach also mentioned that they had quite a discussion on the table for deciding the vice-captain to Sachin and Ganguly was in favour with 3-2. Though the picture changed when the then BCCI president walked in and asked them to reconsider their choice.

“But then, I won’t name the President, but he walked into the selection, which has never ever happened in the history of the BCCI. And he and the Chairman told us, ‘Gentlemen, let’s do some rethinking. Two of us still stuck to our guns, but one selector said, ‘No, the President has said it so I will go with him,” said Malhotra.

Ganguly, who is now a renounced Indian captain and current BCCI chairman, could have just been a batsman could have just remained a magical opener with a great offside game. But as revealed by Malhotra, Ganguly was later named vice-captain with a lot of efforts.

“So we didn’t make him vice-captain then but later on, we managed to (make him). I know today he’s a legendary captain today, but a little bit of effort was there to make him captain, and even vice-captain. We don’t really what would have happened if he was not selected as vice-captain, but India wouldn’t have won so many matches outside the home without his brilliant tactics and aggression as a captain,” he added.