Sourav Ganguly has disclosed an unexpected twist in his story with Greg Chappell. Speaking on the AddaGB podcast, the former India captain said Chappell once showed interest in coaching Kolkata Knight Riders, even after the bitter fallout the two had during Chappell’s time as India coach.
The 2011 email
Ganguly recalled that the message arrived in 2011, when he was captaining KKR. He was checking his inbox at his home in England one morning and was so surprised to see Chappell’s name that he wondered whether he was still asleep. He then verified it carefully, since fake emails are common. According to Ganguly, Chappell wanted to take over as head coach with Ganguly remaining captain.
Ganguly joked that people would find it hard to believe he would consider working with Chappell again. In his words, he might have been fooled once, but not twice.
A turbulent history
The Ganguly-Chappell episode remains one of the most controversial chapters in Indian cricket. Relations soured soon after Chappell became head coach in 2005. Ganguly lost the captaincy to Rahul Dravid and then his Test place in 2006 after a highly publicised dispute with the coach. The decision drew widespread criticism and fan protests across the country.
Ganguly eventually fought back and regained his place in the India side in all formats. He added that he no longer replies to messages from Chappell, suggesting the wounds have not fully healed.
In the IPL, Ganguly scored 1,349 runs in 59 matches, including seven half-centuries.
