File Photo: Kapil Dev with Arun Lal.
© NDTV
Even as the Indian cricket Board drags its feet on appointing a support staff for the upcoming season, World Cup-winning Kapil Dev has a word of caution for the BCCI bosses who will finally decide on Team India’s head coach/director/high-performance manager in the next few days. (Team India Coach to be Announced by June 6: Anurag Thakur)
India begin a tour of Bangladesh from June 7. The tour starts with a Test match from June 10. The teams also play three one-dayers. This is the first time that the senior national squad is without a coach ahead of a tour, probably an indication of how the Board bosses are not on the same page.
Reportedly, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and its secretary Anurag Thakur have not been able to agree on the tenure of the man who will hold the reins of the senior national team. Three big names – Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri – are doing the rounds. (Ganguly’s Appointment Not Decided Yet: Thakur)
According to reports, Ganguly wants a four-year term while Ravi Shastri, who was Team Director until the World Cup, wants nothing less than 18 months. Most Board officials are against a four-year term for anyone. (Ganguly Not Set for Long Role?)
This confusing state of affairs could open the door for a foreign appointee and sources say BCCI officials have approached former India coach Gary Kirsten and IPL regular Tom Moody.
Former Test skipper Kapil has a simple solution for BCCI. The Haryana Hurricane is not in favour of a high-profile appointment and feels Team India does not need extra celebrity power as it could hurt the team management.
Kapil is well qualified to talk about differences in team management. In September 1999, he succeeded Anshuman Gaekwad as Team India coach but his stint was hardly noteworthy. As India lost a series against South Africa at home in 2000, there were talks of discontent and ego issues in the team. (Ganguly Would Do Great as India Coach: Brett Lee)
Gary Kirsten had a successful stint as India coach helping them lift the ICC World Cup in 2011.
© BCCI
The decision to appoint foreign coaches has worked well with Indian teams. 2011 World Cup-winning Kirsten was the most successful while John Wright and Duncan Fletcher did well as coaches who were happy to work behind the scenes. This is where the aggressive Greg Chappell failed as he clashed with Ganguly, who had a mind of his own and continues to do so. (Ganguly’s Anticipated Return: Tactical Brilliance or Emotional Blunder?)
“I would not like to see so many former cricketers get involved with one team. Yes, you need a good captain and you need one former cricketer, who is not a coach but manages the team. I think when you have such a high-profile team, where cricketers are superstars and rockstars, it’s very important to manage them,” Kapil told IBNLive.com.
“So you need a person who can manage the players. That’s very important. I think in this era, you don’t need a coach. You need a colleague who can help you out if you are down and out,” Kapil said.
Sources say BCCI has approached Kirsten for a second stint. The former South African Test star and coach apparently has the support of both Virat Kohli (Test captain) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (T20 and ODI skipper). Moody, who has managed IPL teams, is also in the frame.
The BCCI is clearly caught between an aggressive Ganguly/Shastri and a more low-profile yet solid in credentials foreigner. England have recently shown the way by appointing former Sri Lanka and Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Trevor Bayliss. England also shut the door on the maverick Kevin Pietersen, whose recall could have upset the balance of power in the Alastair Cook-led Test team. (BCCI Plays Waiting Game With Ganguly and Shastri)
With South Africa scheduled to tour India later this year, Kirsten may just get the better of a Ganguly, Shastri or Dravid. All three legends will be happy with their media assignments. After all, they will be talking cricket, but not in the dressing room.
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