BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly says the IPL windfall wasn’t a surprise

Around 10pm, Sourav Ganguly was getting ready to have dinner in his hotel in Dubai. And as the mushroom soup arrived, he smiled seeing the rest of the fare on offer. This is a very different Ganguly, much more careful about lifestyle. “Diet and exercise”, he said. “I have never felt better,” he added with a smile. As he settled down for what turned out to be a really long conversation, it was evident that Ganguly was pleased with what was going on with the IPL and more. “I am not at all surprised. Jay (Shah) and I had felt time and again that we could cross Rs 10-11,000 crore with the two teams and when we opened the bids it was a thousand crores more than what we had calculated,” the BCCI president said about the two new IPL teams — Lucknow and Ahmedabad — earning BCCI over Rs12,000 crore.

“It tells you how strong the IPL brand is.” Ganguly paused before adding further, “First, you should see the range of bidders. There was global interest for the first time. The IPL is now a globally recognised sporting brand with serious global players wanting to come in. That can only be good news for Indian cricket, isn’t it? “Second, these bids will have a telling effect on the media rights a month from now. We expect serious interest in the rights and that will mean the BCCI has raised Rs50,000-plus crores in a month. “It is all about unlocking potential for that’s what will make the sport vibrant and strong in the years to come.

That we were able to compensate cricketers, both women and men, for the period when all action had stopped for Covid is because the finances of the game remain strong,” he said. As hosts of the World Cup, the BCCI has the responsibility for ensuring things go well in the UAE. “The Pakistan match was an aberration. We have a very good unit and I expect the team to come back strong against New Zealand. These are all experienced players who have done very well at the world stage and one match is never a yardstick to judge anyone,” he said.

“Our top order is one of the best in the world and I stay confident they will turn things around in the next game.” The BCCI, it is no secret, has been keen on Rahul Dravid to take up India’s coaching job. And his application has more or less sealed the deal. “Yes, he has applied and all I can say is he has all the credentials to take the team forward. Someone of his calibre will always be of great help for the players. He did very well at the U-19 level and it is good to see him wanting to make a difference with the senior team.” India are all set to travel to South Africa in December and it is a destination where they have never won a Test series.

“It is certainly one of our goals. As a player we had come close in 2005-06 but this current team surely has the potential to go on and win a series. “They have done well against Australia in Australia and England in England and that’s central to being a good cricket team. You have to win away Tests and series for that’s when you are recognised as a good team.” While men’s cricket is strong, women’s cricket too is on an upswing. Ganguly is in agreement that women’s IPL (WIPL) is needed. “That’s the goal. Had it not been for Covid, we would have moved by now. But be rest assured it is one of our priorities,” he said.

“The BCCI was clear we wanted our players to play Test cricket and you have seen that happen in England and Australia. “We will ensure they are best prepared for the World Cup and a WIPL is certainly one of the things we want to get on with. I was very impressed with the showing in the pink ball Test against Australia for that tells you the game is moving forward. “For me, the important thing is to leave the game better for the next in line. “When you lost a year to Covid, the challenge was only going to get tough. “To see the appetite for cricket and to see investors queue up is a welcome sign and it will mean the youth will want to play the game and corporates will want to back the game. That’s the perfect recipe for success going forward,” Ganguly signed off.