Feature: Indian soap opera

"I sent a private and confidential email to the president of BCCI," said Chappell on his return from Zimbabwe.

"It did not remain confidential though I would have preferred it to have remained so. What else can I say?"

The two men are likely to express their views on Tuesday when the board meets to review the team's performance.

On his arrival home, Ganguly refused to talk about his relationship with coach Chappell.

"It's a sensitive issue at the present moment and I don't want to stir it up again," he told reporters.

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"It's important the team does well, regardless of who leads it or coaches it.

"It is between the coach and me and we have to sort it out. I do not think the rest of the boys need to be pulled into this."

According to the Indian media, Chappell's e-mail says Ganguly is no longer "physically or mentally fit" to be captain and has lost the respect of some members of the team.

Ganguly chose to concentrate on on-field matters when the team arrived back at Mumbai (Bombay) airport, looking ahead to a tough schedule over the next few months.

Ganguly supporters in Calcutta burn an effigy of Chappell

"We will be playing Sri Lanka at home, then tour Pakistan and play England at home before going to the West Indies.

"We have to take one series at a time. We need to play good, hard cricket as we will be facing very good teams," he said.

"It's going to be tough and we need to get our act together."

Ganguly had previously revealed he was asked to resign as skipper before the first Test in Zimbabwe.

Chappell subsequently claimed that although they had a "frank discussion about Indian cricket, present and future", he had been trying to motivate Ganguly after a run of poor form with the bat.

It paid off as Ganguly made 101 in the first Test in Bulawayo.

"I played well in the Test series and was happy to get a hundred - and happy to win both the matches convincingly. That's what matters," he commented.