As Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday (October 23) took over as the 39th president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he promised to lead the world's richest cricket board with credibility while assuring to run a corruption-free body during his tenure.

The 47-year-old former India captain insisted that he will run the Indian cricket’s governing body the same manner how he used to lead the Indian team during his captaincy days.

Ganguly, the most successful India captain, was officially assigned with the task of heading Indian cricket for the next nine months at the BCCI's headquarters in Mumbai on Wednesday after being elected unopposed last week.

Addressing the press at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai after formally taking charge as the BCCI President, Ganguly said: “No compromise on credibility, corruption-free, that is the way I led Team India and that is (the) way I will lead BCCI.”

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He continued, “It’s the first day I sat on a chair where some stalwarts have sat. It was the same when I became the captain as well. There were some great names who led the country before me. I have a role to do and I will do that to the best of my ability.”

On captain Virat Kohli’s suggestions, the newly-elected BCCI president said: “Mutual respect. Opinions and discussions will be there. Virat Kohli is the most important man in this entire context, so we’ll be there to support him, listen to him. Because I’ve been a captain myself I understand from that position.”

He also commented on the future of MS Dhoni, who is on a sabbatical since the World Cup, adding: “MS Dhoni’s achievement has made India proud. When you sit down and take note of what he has done, you say ‘Wow’. Champions don’t finish very quickly. Till I am around, everybody will be respected.”

Ganguly signed off by saying, “We are here to make their (Indian cricketers) life easier. And not more difficult. Everything will be decided on the basis of performance.”

(With PTI Inputs)