Ganguly welcomes international friendlies, calls for regular exposure for Indian footballers
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed support for the Indian football team playing international friendlies against top-tier global opponents. He argues that consistent exposure to high-quality competition is essential for the development of Indian football, mirroring the strategy used in Indian cricket.
Why it matters
This highlights the strategic shift in Indian sports management, emphasizing the importance of international exposure for national team growth.
Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has welcomed the opportunity for the Indian football team to face world football’s heavyweights like Brazil, Uruguay and Panama in international friendlies scheduled for early October.
Ganguly, currently the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and a former co-owner of Indian Super League club ATK FC, said regular exposure to stronger opponents is vital for Indian football’s development.
“It is good. Why wouldn’t it be good to play football against big teams?” Ganguly said in response to a question from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is organising the matches in Kolkata and Bengaluru.
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