TV
Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the new head coach of the Pretoria Capitals. Aligning with the Delhi Capitals’ sister franchise, Ganguly takes on yet another chapter in his cricketing journey. His legacy is already vast—legendary player, iconic captain, broadcaster, CAB president, Delhi Capitals’ director, and former BCCI president. With a résumé this illustrious, coaching was always on the cards. Now that his first official stint has begun, it feels more like a prelude to something far bigger. After Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid, and Gautam Gambhir, the next obvious name could well be Sourav Ganguly.
And why not? Ganguly has long been recognized for his ability to spot and nurture talent. Under his captaincy, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, and even Harbhajan Singh rose to prominence, creating a generation of match-winners. Post-retirement too, his influence has remained strong. Except for the infamous Kohli-BCCI saga in 2021, Ganguly has proven to be a sharp communicator. Just ask the Delhi Capitals’ youngsters, who hold him in the highest regard. If the opportunity presents itself, handing him the reins of Team India feels like both a natural progression and a fitting honour.
Coaching, however, comes with its own challenges. Shastri left drained, while Dravid stepped down to prioritize family after years on the road. Ganguly, now 53 and having overcome serious health scares, looks revitalized and hungry to give back to cricket. Like Gambhir, he has already tested the waters in the IPL ecosystem, and his pathway to India’s head coach role feels inevitable.
This isn’t just idle speculation; it feels more like foreshadowing. His stature in Indian cricket administration alone makes him impossible to ignore. The talent pool for the job isn’t overflowing either. Remember how Gambhir’s appointment unfolded—almost by elimination? VVS Laxman opted out, Ricky Ponting never formally applied, and with Tendulkar distancing himself, the BCCI’s choices were limited. With Indian coaches at the helm for the last 14 years, it’s unclear if the board would suddenly turn to an overseas name. Among IPL veterans Nehra, Jayawardene, Ponting none appear convincing. Which leaves the dependable option in form of Sourav Ganguly.
The fact that Ganguly is now openly embracing a future in coaching only strengthens the case. His measured 'we’ll see when the time comes' responses echo the same trajectory Dravid took before stepping up from the NCA to the senior team. If history repeats, Ganguly’s turn may not be far away. His early coaching stints, beginning with Pretoria, could well be a testing ground for the inevitable.
As for Gambhir, his journey as India’s coach, since July last year, has been a mixed bag. Until the England series, his record leaned more towards disappointments, with the Champions Trophy triumph being his standout moment. Critics on social media even accuse him of engineering the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma, Kohli, and Ashwin. Yet, his defence lies in results—India fought hard for a 2-2 draw in England under his leadership. Known for grooming young squads, a quality seen in his stints with Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir is beginning to find his footing as India’s coach.
Despite the noise, his contract runs until 2027. Unless India faces repeated failures or Gambhir’s rapport with the team collapses, the BCCI is unlikely to make a mid-course correction. Stability, not chaos, defines Indian cricket’s structure—unlike Pakistan’s revolving-door approach. Even Ganguly himself has backed Gambhir, urging patience and continuity.
Still, if circumstances demand change, Indian cricket knows it has its Royal Bengal Tiger waiting in the wings—ready for the roar.
