Sorry Ganguly, India’s not ready for an Indian coach

India first started winning Test matches abroad under Sourav Ganguly and India’s first foreign coach, John Wright. Now, Ganguly thinks the Indian cricket team does not need a foreign coach. The most admired captain in the history of Indian cricket believes India is ready to move on, and back to Indian coaches. Really, is India mature enough to put aside regional considerations and respond to an Indian coach without branding him at the drop of a hat as a ‘Bengali’ or a ‘South Indian’ or a ‘Bombayite or a ‘North Indian’ or ‘Muslim’? Of course, the fact that Ganguly is desperate to be hands-on involved with the Indian cricket team has much to do with his latest salvo. Fame can be addictive. And the former Indian captain is finding it very hard to stay away from the limelight. This is one of the reasons he chose to continue plying his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL). [caption id=“attachment_448030” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  In Ganguly’s case, the former India captain probably finds it frustrating to sit in the commentary box and pass judgment on a team he feels strongly about. Reuters[/caption] But playing cricket for a living is hard work. And Ganguly is a very shrewd man. Ganguly’s inner voice (and his owner at Pune Warriors India) is probably telling him that his time as a quality cricketer is up. What’s more, commentary is not enough of an adrenaline-high for Ganguly. Batting for ‘Team India’ is what he loves most. Besides, unbiased observers will tell you that Ganguly is really not a very good commentator. (The measured, well-read, and thoughtful Rahul Dravid, on the other hand, will make a fantastic one.) More pertinently, in Ganguly’s case, the former India captain probably finds it frustrating to sit in the commentary box and pass judgment on a team he feels strongly about. This in-your-face passion is what made him such a headstrong, authoritative, and victorious captain. Being so close to the action and one of the power-brokers in Indian cricket, he craves to be part of that winning feeling again. One can’t really blame him for making a play for the Indian coaching gig. Dravid ‘reportedly’ did it, too, some weeks back though he denied it later. And anything Dravid wants, the competitive Ganguly will want as well. From the vantage position Ganguly finds himself in — on account of his tall deeds and the popularity he enjoys with the Indian public — he has spotted an opening that’s there for the taking. The race is on. But isn’t it too soon for either of these former Indian cricketers to make a play for the job? Clearly, both these great players have thrown their respective hats into the ring because, more than anything else, they miss being part of the action. This is not a good enough reason to give someone a job that has much to do with caring for other people. The overtures from Ganguly and Dravid are deeply rooted in self-interest. If either of these superstars are handed the assignment to coach the Indian team, they are likely to draw too much attention to themselves. The role of a team coach, though, is more akin to that of a consultant. Few former Indian cricket greats are suited for the job of coaching the Indian team because they are pompous and have too many vested interests. The best consultants tend to be self-effacing, impartial observers capable of taking the long view. When it comes to cricket, and politics, Indians are provincial and fail to see the big picture. A team coach cannot be like that. The ideal coach for the Indian team would be someone who is measured, analytical, and can play the part of an involved insider, but from outside. There is one man India has seen playing this role to perfection, albeit on a somewhat smaller stage. His name is Stephen Fleming, coach of the Chennai Super Kings. The ice-cool New Zealander who out-thought the ruthless Steve Waugh is the man the BCCI should woo for the job Sourav Ganguly so obviously wants. The writer tweets @Armchairexpert_. You can follow him if you’re into that sort of thing._