Sourav Ganguly picks the tougher role between playing for India and being BCCI President
When Ganguly was made the captain, way back in 2000, Indian cricket was in the doldrums.
Former Indian captain and the current President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India Sourav Ganguly has donned many hats during his celebrated International career. From being an outrageously talented left-handed batsman from Bengal to becoming one of the great captains to Indian cricket to now leading the Indian cricket administration, Ganguly has relished every challenge that has been put forward in front of him.
When Ganguly was made the captain, way back in 2000, Indian cricket was in the doldrums. The match-fixing saga had jolted Indian cricket to its core. Ganguly needed to build the team, and he did just that. He gave opportunities to young talents like Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, each of whom went on ti became legends of the game.
The same was the case when Ganguly was elected as the BCCI President in October. Bit since then the former captain has performed his role with aplomb. Ganguly was instrumental in India staging its maiden Pink Ball Test in November.
So, which role did Ganguly, himself, found the toughest: cricketer or an administrator. The southpaw picked the former when he said, “It was tougher playing under pressure because it was one chance while batting, that was a lot difficult. Here (as BCCI President) if I make a mistake, I come back next and get it rectified, there if you nicked (Glenn) McGrath outside the off stump (there’s no coming back),” stated the veteran while peaking during the Sportstar Aces Award Night.
Sourav Ganguly is looking forward to the year 2020 which has three World Cups lined up
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar was also in the house. Gavaskar was asked about his past experience of leading the BCCI and also on what has changed in cricket since he stopped playing.
“Yes, I did (hold the office of BCCI president) for a couple of months in 2014, when the Supreme Court-appointed me president of the BCCI, IPL, I did it. It was easy. I think the fitness, they (players) are much fitter than we were playing, much stronger and they can hit the ball a fair distance, (they are) physically fit and agile,” Gavaskar said.
Meanwhile, Ganguly who received the ‘Team of the Year’ on the behalf of the Indian team is looking forward to the year 2020 which has three World Cups- U-19 along with Men and Women T20 World Cups.
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