wall bureau: This is probably the first time that Sourav Ganguly will not be in the ISL final. It is unimaginable that the ISL final is taking place in Goa without him. But according to reliable sources, Sourav will not take the field in the final. Another number is acting as the reason.
Sourav is already the brand ambassador of ISL, he is one of the partners of Mohun Bagan. His team will play against Bengaluru FC in the final. Whose owner is Jindal Group. Jindal is the owner of Delhi Capitals in IPL. If Sourav is on the field, the support may be uncomfortable. Because he is also the director of Jindal’s Delhi Capitals.
Even Sourav is one of the partners of Mohun Bagan so he might have to side with Mohun Shibir. ATK will be owned by Sanjiv Goenka. The equation of the relationship is so complex that it will not be easy for Sourav to strike a balance. So Maharaj ‘ignored’ the invitation as he is busy with IPL.
On the question of whether Maharaj will remain or not, Mohun Bagan secretary Debasish Dutt said, “Yes, Sourav will remain, I have spoken to him.” But former cricketer Sanjay Das, Sourav’s trusted friend, told The Wall, “Maharaj will not be in the ISL final. He has other work to do.”
Neeta Ambani of Reliance Group remains in the field even when Sourav is not there. Even Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and state sports minister Arup Biswas will be in the fray. Federation president Kalyan Choubey is staying, while IFA secretary Anirban Dutt has left from Kolkata.
