Rahul Dravid's son called me and said his father is being too strict and needs to be taken away: Sourav Ganguly

The Rahul Dravid era is set to get underway in the Indian cricket as the cricket legend has been appointed the head coach of the national team. Dravid takes over the reins from the outgoing Ravi Shastri following India’s ouster in the T20 World Cup 2021. With Dravid being one of the finest batters ever and a proven coach as well, expectations are sky-high from him.

For the unversed, Dravid has had successful stints as a coach for India A and Under-19 teams over the few years. New Zealand’s upcoming tour of India, which gets underway on November 17, will be his first assignment as full-time coach. Meanwhile, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently joked that Dravid’s son wanted the legendary cricketer away from home as he was being too strict.

Sourav Ganguly pulls Rahul Dravid’s leg

“I got a call from him saying his father was being too strict with him and that he needed to be taken away. That’s when I called Rahul (Dravid) and told him that it was time for him to join the national team,” said Ganguly while speaking at the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair on Saturday (November 13). Ganguly then revealed that communication between him and Dravid was smooth as their friendship remained intact over the years.

“We grew up together, started around the same time, and spent most of the time playing together. So it was easy for some of us to make him feel welcome and wanted,” he added. On being asked about the resumption of bilateral series between India and Pakistan, Ganguly said neither BCCI nor PCB has any control over it.

“This is not in the hands of the boards. At world tournaments, the two teams do play each other. Bilateral cricket has been stopped for years and this is something that the respective governments have to work on. This is not in Rameez’s hands, nor mine,” asserted the BCCI president.

Meanwhile, Team India will have a point to prove against the Kiwis as they endured a horrendous campaign in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021. The Men in Blue got knocked out of the league stage and would be determined to put up a better show against the Blackcaps.