Kolkata: Entrusted with the responsibility of picking India's next chief coach, former captain Sourav Ganguly said that he will not "mess up" as he did once when he recommended Australian Greg Chappell's name in 2005.
Ganguly and Chappell shared a frosty relationship during two turbulent years in country's cricket, a time when one of India's celebrated captains removed from top job.
"I once had an opportunity to select the coach. I thought I messed it up in 2005 (during Chappell's recruitment). I have been given that opportunity again. I had taken an interview (Chappell) once and it did not go off well," Ganguly said during the launch of his book 'A Century Is Not Enough'.
Ganguly hoped that the Cricket Advisory Committee will do it correctly.
"Hopefully, we will do it correctly this time, whoever it is... Luckily, I've got support in Sachin, VVS, the BCCI secretary (Ajay Shirke) and the president (Anurag Thakur). Together, we will pick the right person," said Ganguly.
Ganguly accepted that being the coach of the Indian team did cross his mind a couple of years back.
"To be honest, two and half years ago, I was thinking myself whether I would want this job. Now today, I'm selecting one. That's how life is. I have not given interview, hopefully I will give (the interview) one day..."
"In life nothing is guaranteed, nobody knows what will happen one or two years later. Nobody thought I would be president of CAB and hosting a World Twenty20 final. That's how life is, and you have to deal it."
The former skipper said that he spent a sleepless night Monday on the eve of coach's interview, somewhat similar to the feeling before his Test debut against England at the Lord's in 1996.
"Yesterday night, I was not getting sleep when everyone was sleeping. I saw it (his hundred at the Lord's) on YouTube -- a 12-minute video -- and I fell asleep after that. I felt happy."
"I am a normal human being, who wanted to do well in a profession, which I loved the most. That afternoon (at the Lord's) made me believe if I work hard, I've got it in me to play for next 10 years. When I got my first Test hundred at the Lord's, I still remember the press conference. The first question was, 'you answered your critics, what do you have to tell about that?' But the first thing that came to my mind is that I belonged at this level."
