There were talks of their indifference in the past but BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly on Friday (December 6) dismissed the speculations that he would be vindictive towards India head coach Ravi Shastri during his presidential term.

As per Ganguly, who took charge as BCCI boss in October this year, performance alone would determine how individuals are judged in his tenure.

Read Also: Ravi Shastri shares his views on Sourav Ganguly's appointment as BCCI president

It is still believed, Ganguly, as part of the then Cricket Advisory Committee, didn't want his ex-teammate Anil Kumble to relinquish the team's head coach position and be replaced by Shastri in 2017.

After India’s loss in the Champions Trophy 2017 final, Kumble had resigned citing "untenable" relations with the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

“That’s why these are called speculations. I don’t have an answer to these questions,” Ganguly said at the India Today Conclave when asked about the possibility that he had an axe to grind with Shastri because of past differences

“You perform and you continue; [if] you don’t, someone else takes over. That was also the case when I played. There will be talks, leaks, rumours, but concentration should be on what happens in the 22 yards,” he added.

The former India skipper then cited the examples of Kohli and of Sachin Tendulkar to make his point.

“Life is about performance and nothing can substitute that,” he said.

Ganguly once again reiterated that Virat “remains the most important man in Indian cricket”.

“Kohli remains the most important man in Indian cricket as he leads the team on the field.”

“Virat is a fantastic role model as to how he conducts himself on and off the field. He will get all the support required to succeed. Virat, Ravi everyone will get everything required. But at the end of the day, we will demand performance,” he remarked.