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The search for India’s cricket coach

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The search for India’s cricket coach

Much depends on who gets to play mentor in a dressing room populated by cricket’s superstars

Cricket coach, Indian cricket coach, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, editorial, Indian express, opinion news, indian express editorialGambhir, a former top-order batsman who occasionally led India, is known for his motivational and man-management skills. But success at the franchise level doesn’t necessarily translate into glory in international cricket.

That Gautam Gambhir is at the top of the list of probables for the position of the next head coach of the men’s cricket team was only to be expected after his achievements in his first season as mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Gambhir, a former top-order batsman who occasionally led India, is known for his motivational and man-management skills. But success at the franchise level doesn’t necessarily translate into glory in international cricket. An IPL team has several uncapped players who will look up to someone of Gambhir’s stature. The overseas players are generally professionals plying their trade in leagues around the world who are likely to follow instructions.

But the Indian dressing room is populated by superstars, many of whom would have played alongside Gambhir in their first few years in international cricket as well as in the IPL. And while professionalism dictates that personal likes and dislikes don’t come in the way of team goals, a viable working relationship between the coach and senior players is preferable. There have been the examples of Greg Chappell in India and, more recently, Justin Langer in Australia. A winning dressing room is a happy dressing room, and vice versa.

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That there have hardly been any notable foreign names in contention for the job of Indian head coach indicates that it’s no longer as attractive a proposition as it once was, despite the profile and financial rewards it brings. The likes of Stephen Fleming, Rick Ponting, Andy Flower and Langer expressed their unwillingness to be considered despite being associated with IPL teams. They are handsomely compensated by their franchises, and the work doesn’t take too much of their time. The pressure and involvement required with the Indian team will be at another level. Most of these ex-cricketers have families, and they don’t want to be away from them for 10-12 months in a year, after being on the road for a large part of their playing careers.

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

First uploaded on: 01-06-2024 at 06:50 IST

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