I Have Got Utmost Respect For Sourav Ganguly, Says Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri

There was a time in Indian cricket when Ravi Shastri, the present head coach of Team India, publically criticised Sourav Ganguly. After being snubbed for the same post back in 2016, Shastri held Ganguly, a member of CAC then, responsible for being ignored. Ganguly also hit back at Shastri then.

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As per reports, Ganguly was not in Shastri’s favour even in 2017 but having learnt lessons, CAC picked Shastri as head coach. He continues to keep this position and got an extension for two years after World Cup 2019.

Ganguly, whom Shastri once criticised, is now BCCI’s President and has the power to take a call on coaches. But the relationship between the duo has improved since 2017. Both, publically, have praised each other and in a recent talk with India Today, Shastri said that he has got utmost respect for the former India captain.

“As far as the Sourav-Shastri ‘game’ goes, that is a brilliant chaat and bhelpuri for the media with all mirch and masala. What he (Ganguly) has done as a cricketer, I have got utmost respect. He took over Indian cricket at the most troubled times, post the match-fixing era when the Indian cricket was in shambles. You needed the faith of the people to comeback and I respect that. And if people don’t respect that, to hell with them,” Shastri said during ‘India Today’ channel’s special programme ‘Inspiration’.

In 2018, Shastri, during a conversation on show Breakfast with Champions, had said that he once ordered to move the team bus in Bangladesh without Ganguly because he was late. Of course, Ganguly replied to Shastri but the matter came to end there and then.

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Ganguly has taken over as BCCI’s President and both the India greats have common goals. Ganguly, on his part, will expect Team India to win ICC trophies. Men in Blue haven’t won an ICC trophy since 2013. Yes, they sit at the top in Tests and at the second position in ODIs but have to win an ICC Trophy. India played the final of T20 World Cup in 2014 and ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 but lost.

Under Shastri, India made it to the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2016 and 2019 World Cup but lost on both the occasions. With two T20 World Cups lined up to be played in the next two years, this seems to be the best chance for Team India to break the jinx and win an ICC trophy.