Next West Bengal CM or Team India head coach? Ganguly drops a hint

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed openness to potentially coaching the Indian cricket team while firmly rejecting any political aspirations ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.

The 53-year-old former BCCI President made these comments during a recent podcast interview with PTI in Kolkata.Ganguly, who served as Team Director of Delhi Capitals from 2018-19 and 2022-24, addressed speculation about his future plans in cricket administration and coaching."I never really thought about it because I got into different roles. I finished (competitive cricket) in 2013 and then became Board (BCCI) President," Ganguly said, highlighting that promoting women's cricket was his biggest contribution as BCCI President.

When asked about coaching the Indian team, Ganguly responded: "We'll see what the future holds. I'm just 50 (53), so let's see what happens. I'm open to it. We'll see where it goes."On the political front, Ganguly was unequivocal in his response. When asked about joining a political party, he simply stated: "I am not interested." Even when pressed about the possibility of being offered the state chief minister's position, he maintained the same stance.

Ganguly shared his thoughts on current Indian coach Gautam Gambhir's performance, noting his improvement since the Champions Trophy victory in Dubai.

"Gautam (Gambhir) is doing a good job. He started off a little slow, losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with the Champions Trophy. This is going to be a big series (vs England)," Ganguly observed.Speaking about Gambhir's coaching style, Ganguly said: "I haven't seen him from very close in this role, but I know he is very passionate.

I haven't observed his strategies closely because I haven't worked with him as a coach. He's very straightforward, he sees things clearly, and he's very open about what he feels, about the team, players, people, everything. From the outside, you can tell he's a very transparent person - what you see is what you get.

"Ganguly recalled his playing days with Gambhir, noting: "I've played with him. He was a great guy with a lot of respect for me and the senior players.

Even now, I can see he is extremely passionate about his job."Regarding Gambhir's future as coach, Ganguly expressed support for his development: "I wish him all the best. He's just a year into the job, and this will be an important (England) tour. He struggled a bit in Australia, but just like everyone else, he'll learn, he'll grow, and he'll become better."