Just keep quiet and play the game, says Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly has denied meeting Virat Kohli or other members of the Indian team here to seek their views on Anil Kumble.

Published : Jun 03, 2017 02:07 IST , Birmingham

Sourav Ganguly felt India’s only option, amid all the controversy, was to focus on the cricket.
Sourav Ganguly felt India’s only option, amid all the controversy, was to focus on the cricket.
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Sourav Ganguly felt India’s only option, amid all the controversy, was to focus on the cricket.

Sourav Ganguly has denied meeting Virat Kohli or other members of the Indian team here to seek their views on Anil Kumble. The former India captain, a member of the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee tasked with selecting the team’s coach, has also stated that he is not thinking about that process during the Champions Trophy. “This morning, I’ ve been at the ground since 8 a.m. I’m supposed to have spoken to players, spoken to Virat. I’ve not done it one bit, and neither am I keen to,” he said here on Friday.

Asked what the CAC, of which Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman are also a part, would do next, Ganguly was unsure. “Don't know; we'll see what happens. You need to hear from the right people. You need to hear from them, what is it, what they want and what’s the way forward… It’s too early at this stage. You're in the middle of a Champions Trophy. I don't even think about all these things.”

Ganguly, who was at Edgbaston doing commentary on the Group A clash between Australia and New Zealand, felt India’s only option, amid all the controversy, was to focus on the cricket. “Just deal with it. You’re a name, you’re captain of India, you're coach of India, you’ll have to deal with it. Just keep quiet and play the game,” he said.

“Whether there is uncertainty (over the coach's future) or not I don't know. We'll have to wait and see. All of us can talk. But there are two exceptional cricketers: Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble. They're responsible cricketers; they know what they're doing.”

Asked if it was a case of two strong personalities clashing, Ganguly shrugged. “Yeah, but that's with everything in life,” he said. “Sometimes small things just get blown out of proportion. If two of you are sitting in the media box discussing players, each has a different opinion. It doesn’t mean you don't get along.”

The 44-year-old felt India was the favourite to beat Pakistan on Sunday. “India is a good side. For the last 15 years they've had the better of Pakistan. It's a new day, a new game but still (India is the favourite). Australia playing New Zealand is probably a bigger game. It's about the quality of the teams,” he said.

Professional sportsmen always found a way to shut any controversy out of their minds, Ganguly felt. “Everybody faces controversy,” he said. “You just have to deal with it and move on. That's life. You should not worry about it. Professionals find a way. Look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo. He’s in controversies every week but he still comes out and takes Real Madrid to the Champions League final.”

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