BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly says champions like MS Dhoni don't finish so quickly, backs Virat Kohli

In his first press conference as BCCI president, former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly was full of praises for MS Dhoni and said that the wicket-keeper batsman will be respected. As Dhoni remains to stay out of the Indian side, Ganguly said that champions like him don't finish quickly. "I don`t know what`s in his mind. India is very proud to have M.S. Dhoni. Till I am around everybody will be respected. Dhoni`s achievements make India proud," Ganguly said about his former teammate. Ganguly also brought out his own example and how he made a comeback to the team when everyone thought he was finished.

"I have always said when I was left out and the entire world said `I will never make it.` I came back and played for 4 years. Champions don`t finish very quickly," he explained. The new BCCI boss added that he is yet to talk to Dhoni and will discuss the future course of action with him in time. Former India skipper Dhoni, 38, has been away from international cricket since India`s exit from the World Cup after losing the semi-final clash against New Zealand.

Ganguly also backed Virat Kohli to lead the Indian cricket team in all formats and dismissed the reports claiming that Rohit Sharma could be promoted to the role in T20Is. Earlier, Ganguly had said he would talk to Kohli on October 24 when India`s squad for the home Test and T20I series against Bangladesh will be announced.

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"I will find out from the selectors when I meet them on 24th. I will find out what the selectors are thinking. Then I will put my opinion," Ganguly had told reporters at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) premises last week.

Meanwhile, Kohli too had said that Ganguly hasn`t spoken to him about anything related to Dhoni`s future. "I congratulated him (Ganguly). It`s great that he has become BCCI president. He will get in touch with me when he has to. I will go meet him when he tells me to. He has not spoken to me about that (MS Dhoni`s future)," the Indian skipper had said while addressing media after Test series win against South Africa.

Interestingly, for his first press conference, Ganguly wore the coat that he got after his appointment as team Indian skipper.