Won't mess up like I did while recommending Greg Chappell: Ganguly

Entrusted the responsibility of picking India's next 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 Indian cricket, a time when one of India's celebrated captains was removed from the 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 hopes that the Board of Control for Cricket in India's Cricket Advisory Committee also comprising of former team mates Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman appointed to pick the Indian coach will end up picking the right candidate.

"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 am 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 Cricket Association of Bengal 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 on Monday on the eve of coach's interview, somewhat similar to the feeling before his Test debut against England at 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 made me believe if I work hard, I have got it in me to play for next 10 years.

"When I got my first Test hundred at 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."