Sourav Ganguly Opens Up On Ravi Shastri's Famous Punctuality Story

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has finally opened up on the famous ‘punctuality story’ narrated by Ravi Shastri. The India head coach had revealed an incident from 2007 when he had to take the bus without Ganguly as the batsman was late.

The fans finally got to hear Ganguly’s side of the famous story. But they did not get what they were expecting. The legendary skipper completely denied the story by saying it “never happened”.

“You don’t interview him [Shastri] in the morning. Don’t bring him on the breakfast show he wouldn’t remember what he said. When I meet him, I will ask what did you say on the breakfast show. That never happened I don’t know where he got that from,” Ganguly said on Breakfast With Champions.

“But don’t interview him in the morning, do it in the evening he will be able to recall things better,” he added before breaking into a laughter.

Earlier on the same show, Shastri had revealed the story when the team had to leave without Ganguly. He also said that “punctuality is paramount”  for the current side because he never compromises on that front.

“I think that’s [Discipline] a habit. I take great pride in having that habit. You know because I am never one to give excuses. If you are called somewhere I think decency demands that you are punctual. And it’s a great quality in any human being…especially if you are involved with a team. And that’s why even in our team punctuality is paramount.

“If the bus leaves at 9, it will leave at 9. I remember once.. and only once I have had to take the bus early.. This was in Bangladesh when I first became manager in 2007.

“So the first practice session was in Chittagong I think. We were supposed to leave at 9 am and it got to 9 am.

“So I said, ‘Let’s go. All the guys from the back, the local managers and all, they came back.. they said Dada (Sourav Ganguly) has not come yet. I said, Dada can come separately. Let’s go’. I think after that every time we left for practice, Sourav arrived 10 minutes before,” Shastri had said.

Well, it is good to see that the former stalwarts of Indian cricket are on amicable terms. Just a year ago, they made it to the news headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Ganguly and Shastri have been at loggerheads since 2016 when Ganguly-led cricket advisory committee (CAC) picked Anil Kumble as head coach. Shastri was hot favourite to replace Duncan Fletcher as full-time coach but the committee went with Kumble.

Shastri had then publicly expressed his disappointment. He had also said that Ganguly was missing from the meeting where he made his presentation. Ganguly had then hit back at Shastri and said he was living in a fool’s paradise if he thought only one member in the BCCI’s committee was responsible for him not becoming the Indian coach.

Shastri finally got the position last year after Champions Trophy.