BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday posted a cryptic tweet that has left everyone guessing (and second-guessing) amid speculation the former India cricket captain could announce a new innings - as a politician. "Today, I am planning to start something that I feel will probably help a lot of people. I hope you continue your support as I enter this chapter of my life," he tweeted.
"2022 marks the 30th year since the start of my journey with cricket in 1992. Since then, cricket has given me a lot. Most importantly, it has given me the support of all of you. I want to thank every single person who has been a part of the journey, supported me, and helped me reach where I am today," the post also said.
However, shortly afterwards Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah told news agency ANI Sourav Ganguly had not resigned as president - a move that would have been taken as the first step towards joining a political party.
"The rumours doing rounds about Mr Sourav Ganguly stepping down from the post of BCCI President are factually incorrect. We have some exciting times in the form of media rights coming up and my colleagues and I are completely focused on the upcoming opportunity and safeguarding the interest of Indian cricket," Jay Shah told ANI.
{{/usCountry}}"The rumours doing rounds about Mr Sourav Ganguly stepping down from the post of BCCI President are factually incorrect. We have some exciting times in the form of media rights coming up and my colleagues and I are completely focused on the upcoming opportunity and safeguarding the interest of Indian cricket," Jay Shah told ANI.
{{/usCountry}}There has been endless speculation about Sourav Ganguly's political debut.
Earlier this month, Ganguly hosted union home minister Amit Shah; Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal assembly; and other prominent BJP leaders at his residence. That rekindled talk of Ganguly joining the BJP - talk that also surfaced during the 2021 Bengal election.
The BJP played down talk at the time, with spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya saying that Sourav Ganguly was 'most welcome' to attend a poll rally headlined by prime minister Narendra Modi.
Asked about the dinner Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: "What is the harm? He (Shah) loves rosogolla (a popular Bengali sweetmeat) and I would urge Sourav to keep a large stock..."
Any speculation about Ganguly joining the BJP were muddied a day after the dinner with Amit Shah and by the man himself.
Ganguly said he shared a close friendship with the chief minister; she visited him while he was unwell in January last year. "Our honourable chief minister Mamata Banerjee is a person very close to me. I had approached her to help up this institute," he said at a private event in Kolkata.