Former India skipper, Sourav Ganguly has batted for corporate support and professionalism in Indian sports citing examples of the successful Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ganguly while talking at the launch of Beyond the Boardroom’, a coffee-table book said talent should flourish.

“IPL has become so successful because it is professionally run and that’s the most important thing. Every player, whether it is a cricketer or a footballer or a gymnast or a tennis player who is as good as Mahesh (Bhupathi), his talent should flourish and not suppressed by political (differences),” Ganguly said.

Ganguly also revealed the main aim is to ensure everybody wins medals.

“And with this professionalism, and corporates coming in, there is nothing to hold them back. Their main aim is to make sure that an X or Y wins a gold at the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games. That is what is allowing talent to express themselves and become better,” he added.

The former cricketer also noted the facilities have changed for better now and opportunities are coming up.

“So the facilities have gone a lot better (now). It is the system which produces (players). I see a radical change in the way athletes are seen up in this country, and that’s how it should be, and the results will follow.”

Sourav Ganguly | CAB | — Image: Getty Images

“This Commonwealth Games, the tally of gold medals, there is a drastic change from the last CWG, and it is going to happen in every sports. It has happened in cricket. When we used to travel to England and Australia, we lost regularly. But now we see India going abroad and the IPL and the cricket, it has gone to a different level. It’s the awareness of sports in our country, and it is also because of the corporates who have come up,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, during the chat Ganguly revealed he has not gone to the gym before representing India.

Mahesh Bhupathi, Nikhat Zareen, Sajjan Jindal, and Parth Jindal were also present on occasion.