Former India captain Sourav Ganguly recovering after heart attack

BCCI chief 'stable and without support of oxygen after undergoing angioplasty'

President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly was rushed to a hospital in Kolkata after complaining of chest pains, a doctor said. AFP

Indian cricket chief Sourav Ganguly was under observation in hospital Sunday after a successful heart operation, doctors said, as well wishes continued to pour in for the former star and captain.

The 48-year-old, who heads the country's powerful cricket board, suffered a heart attack during his morning exercise session on Saturday.

He was immediately taken to Woodlands hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state, where doctors found three blockages in his arteries, one of which needed a stent implant.

"Sourav Ganguly is now stable and without support of oxygen after undergoing angioplasty. He had his breakfast," doctor Saroj Mandal told reporters outside the hospital.

"Genetic history and long-term stress and other factors may have caused the disease," Mandal said, adding that a seven-member medical team is monitoring his health.

A crowd of well-wishers remained outside the hospital waiting for updates about "dada", a term used endearingly for an elder brother in Bengali.

India's record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar tweeted his support.

"Just got to know about your ailment Sourav. Hope each passing day brings you closer to a full and speedy recovery! Get well soon," the cricket legend wrote.

India's current stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and regular skipper Virat Kohli also tweeted their prayers.

Ganguly was unanimously elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the sport's most powerful body, in 2019.

As the board chief, he was instrumental in organising the Indian Premier League in the UAE last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The left-handed opener retired from Test cricket in 2008 having accumulated 7,212 runs including 16 centuries - his first made at Lord's on debut.

He also scored 11,363 runs in 311 one-day internationals.