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

Sourav Ganguly Hints at Coaching India, Rejects Political Ambitions

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has indicated a willingness to consider coaching the Indian cricket team, while firmly dismissing any interest in entering politics before the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.

Kolkata: Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly during an interview with PTI at his residence, in Kolkata. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahaptra)(PTI06_21_2025_000340A)

The 53-year-old, who previously served as the BCCI President, shared his thoughts during a recent interview in Kolkata.

Ganguly, who held the position of Team Director for Delhi Capitals from 2018-19 and 2022-24, addressed ongoing speculation about his future within cricket administration and the possibility of 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 stated. He emphasized that promoting women's cricket was his most significant accomplishment as BCCI President.

When questioned about potentially 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."

However, Ganguly was clear about his stance on entering politics. When asked about joining a political party, he stated, "I am not interested." He maintained this position even when questioned about the possibility of being offered the state's chief minister position.

Ganguly also commented on the performance of current Indian coach Gautam Gambhir, highlighting 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 noted.

Describing 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 reflected on his time playing with Gambhir, stating, "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 his support for his growth: "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."