‘Gautam good for us’: Ganguly

Gautam Gambhir

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly reckons ex-India opener Gautam Gambhir, who mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title, would be a "good coach" for Team India.

Ex-BCCI president Ganguly favoured the appointment of an Indian coach for the high-profile job.

‘You can see the hunger'

"If he has applied, Gambhir will be a good coach. He worked for KKR this year, I was with Delhi [Capitals]. You can see the hunger, the passion and the desire to win. I will be happy if he [Gambhir] applies and the board [BCCI] decides to give him the job. I think he is a good candidate," Ganguly said on the sidelines of an event organised by Blue Ocean Corporation at a suburban hotel on Saturday.

Sourav Ganguly. Pic/PTI

Gambhir, 42, was part of MS Dhoni-led India's T20 World Cup-winning team in 2007 and also played a crucial knock of 97 in the 2011 ODI World Cup final in which India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the 50-over World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium.

"I am in favour of an Indian coach. We have enormous talent in our country, enormous [number of] high-skilled players who have done wonders for Indian cricket and very rightfully, they should be part of the system," Ganguly remarked.

Ganguly feels Rohit & Co have a very good chance of winning the T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies, which began on Saturday.

"India will have to play like a T20 team. Play with freedom, play without fear and just keep hitting. There is enormous talent and that's why I say, everyone is capable of winning it for India," he said.

‘Kohli should open'

When mid-day asked him about who should open the innings with Rohit during the T20 World Cup, Ganguly said: "Virat [Kohli] has been in tremendous touch in the IPL. He is a great player and I think they will open."

India will start their campaign against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 5.