Ian Chappell, Ganguly in war of words in the media

Ian Chappell is an expert commentator for Channel Nine covering the Test series between India and Australia. The former Australian captain has won the respect of many players and viewers after his playing days as a commentator and as a columnist. Chappell has a huge fan following in India. A great champion of Sachin Tendulkar, he has won the hearts of the Indian public with his characteristic Australian drawl. However, Chappell has stirred up a hornet's nest with some comments he made in a column for a website, that were subsequently carried by newspapers. Being critical of Ganguly's captaincy and methods, Chappell came out strongly against the Indian captain.

"Ganguly has made a number of poor decisions (not all off them on the field," begins Ian Chappell in his column that appeared in the Sunday edition of the Telegraph newspaper. The fact that Chappell does not detail the kind of mistakes Ganguly has made leaves a lot to be desired. Continuing with more damning comments, Chappell adds, "however, it is his arrogance towards his fellow players that is the biggest threat to his tenuous hold on the captaincy." That is a statement that has not gone down well with the Indian captain. While Ganguly has been accused of being aloof in the past, he has not had to contend with a frontal attack like this.

When in England playing for Lancashire there was a bit of talk about Ganguly's attitude. Some players there seemed to suggest that Ganguly was too laid back for his own good.

However, it's one thing to imply something from afar. To come to Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly's kingdom and make strong comments of this kind is inviting trouble.

The day after Chappell made his comments, the Telegraph newspaper thought it fit to carry a rejoinder from the Indian captain. "I've been distressed by some of Ian Chappell's comments published in The Telegraph on Sunday," said Ganguly. Being guarded to begin with, Ganguly added, "While I respect Chappell's right to be critical of my batting and captaincy, he has no business talking about things he doesn't know of first hand." At some point one has to agree with Ganguly. Not content with that, Ganguly gets to the heart of the matter, "Specifically, I object to his observation that I am arrogant towards fellow players and that I don't treat them with enough respect. These comments are not only unwarranted but terribly misplaced."

Asking rhetorical questions, Ganguly further drives his point home, "How does Chappell know what goes on in our dressing room? Also what does he know of my relationship with teammates? Frankly, either Chappell is himself ignorant or has made the observations at the behest of someone else. This isn't cricket."

With Ganguly making an insinuation of his own in return, it appears that this battle is not over yet. To see the Indian captain and a former legend quarreling in the media like this is disappointing. It does nothing for the image of the game. One thing is clear though, Ian Chappell started this and he will have to finish it. Whether he chooses to do so in Kolkata where Sourav Ganguly is prince, remains to be seen.