India coach Greg Chappell and former captain Saurav Ganguly have settled their differences and reached a working relationship, it was reported in the Indian media on Saturday.
”Let me make it clear that whatever happened had nothing to do with personalities. It was not about Greg Chappell or Saurav Ganguly,” Chappell was quoted in Saturday’s edition of national broadsheet Times of India.
”It was all, what I thought, was good for Indian cricket.”
Ganguly was sacked as skipper and one-day player last October and dropped from the Test squad in February after a long batting slump and a row with Chappell.
The controversial left-hander’s recall for the three-Test series in South Africa beginning next week, following India 4-0 drubbing in the one-dayers, reportedly elicited mixed reactions in the Indian camp.
But the 34-year-old middle-order batsman, who has scored 5 221 Test and 10 123 one-day runs, displayed his old touch with a morale-boosting 83 in the ongoing tour match against the Rest of South Africa.
His innings helped rescue the visitors from 69-5 to declare their first innings at 326-7.
Under pressure
”If he continues batting like this, how will I have any problems with him?” Chappell said.
”I am an Australian. We are used to being blunt, saying things as they are. We can continue to be fine with each other after than too.
”In India, maybe people take it as a slight and don’t forget it easily.”
Chappell, whose contract with the Indian board runs until the end of the World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April, has been under intense pressure following his side’s string of poor performances this year.
India lost a one-day series 4-1 in West Indies in May, failed to reach the final of a tri-series in Malaysia in September, and as hosts were knocked out in the league phase of the Champions Trophy in October.
The 4-0 one-day rout in South Africa ahead of the World Cup has not gone down well with the cricket-crazy Indian public.
India have not won a Test match in three previous trips to South Africa. – Reuters