NEW DELHI (India), Oct 14: Cricket-mad Indians were debating Saurav Ganguly’s future on Friday, a day after India’s most successful Test captain was sacked due to injury and poor batting form.

Indian selectors ended Ganguly’s five-year reign and elevated Rahul Dravid, his longtime deputy, for two upcoming home one-day series versus Sri Lanka and South Africa.

The news was splashed on front pages of newspapers and debated on prime time television shows in India.

“The New Boss”, declared The Times of India alongside a big picture of Dravid. Ganguly, 33, could struggle to retain his place in the squad even if he was fit, it said.

In Kolkata, Ganguly’s hometown, angry fans held a noisy protest in front of the Eden Gardens stadium and burnt the effigy of chief selector Kiran More. The player refused any comment.

New captain Dravid was far away in Sydney, playing for the Rest of the World in the super Test against champions Australia.

“It is an honour and a privilege to have been named as captain of India for the next two series,” Dravid said in a statement there.

Dravid said Indian board officials informed him of his appointment during tea on day one of the Test on Friday.

“We will be playing against two great teams and I am very much looking forward to the challenges that both series will present,” he added.

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar welcomed the change.

“It is a positive move,” he said. “The selectors obviously have an eye on the 2007 World Cup.”

“Three things must have gone against Ganguly. His fitness, batting form and the spat with Chappell,” Wadekar said.

However,Test opener Arun Lal pointed to Ganguly’s record 21 victories in his 49 Tests as captain.

“This has more to do with his injury than his form,” he told Reuters in Kolkata. “I see him coming back as a player, if not as captain once he has proved his fitness.”

Although many former players had supported his removal, Ganguly’s home fans were dejected.

“Saurav is the victim of an ego clash with Greg Chappell,” said Sanjay Das, a newspaper vendor.

He was referring to a recent spat between the skipper and the team’s Australian coach Chappell centred around his poor batting.

“The fact that Dravid is happy to be the captain made it more difficult for Saurav, but if he scores then he will definitely come back,” added Das as he distributed newspapers in Kolkata carrying banner headlines of Ganguly’s ousting.—Agencies