India can continue without a full-time coach until BCCI finds the right man

How much of an influence does a coach have at the highest level? “With the senior boys, it isn’t not much coaching like you need with the juniors. There is a lot more man management. Yes, there is a bit of coaching which is where you keep a watch on them because you cannot change too much at that level. But, if anything goes wrong, they develop bad habits, or faults, they have to be corrected,” is what Anshuman Gaekwad, the former India coach, told CricLife. Thus it isn’t coaching in the real sense, as much as it is about mentorship. Former India bowling coach, Eric Simmons agrees with it. He said, “I think it is very much mentorship. Your technical work is 10 or 15% and it is more about making sure that the guys understand and take ownership of their careers.”

The role of a cricket coach is quite different from that of a football manager. A cricket coach is mainly a backroom guy — who helps players iron out wrinkles and charts out strategies with the bunch. Once the team enters the park, the captain takes over, with the coach occasionally passing his advice. It is unlike football, where managers tend to spend the 90 minutes on the sidelines directing their players. You would seldom see an expressive burst from a cricket coach during a game apart from the odd sigh or grimace. 

India’s last two coaches have been those quintessential backroom men. Gary Kirsten quietly went about his job and slipped into blissful oblivion as his men progressed on the field of play. Duncan Fletcher was also a quiet coach in a four-year long roller-coaster tenure. In practice, he would keep a close eye on the players — only interrupting when he spotted something. That is what a coach is supposed to be! Sourav Ganguly told ESPNCricinfo during the tour to England in 2007: “You don't need a professor at this level. You don't need to treat international players like students. What are you going to teach Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble? What are you going to tell them? Minor things which you notice in the nets you come and tell them, 'This is what I feel; this is how you can do it better'.”

Ganguly was speaking in context of Chandu Borde, India’s cricket manager for that sojourn of the British Isles. At the time, India were in the midst of a transition following Greg Chappell’s exit in the aftermath of the disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign. Ravi Shastri had taken over as manager for the Bangladesh tour soon after the World Cup, followed by Borde taking the team to England. Lalchand Rajput was at the helm for the ICC World T20 2007 and stayed through to the end of the Australia tour in 2008. In that period sans a full-time coach, India won a Test series in England, the ICC World T20 2007, a One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa in Ireland, a home series against Pakistan, a Test match at Perth and the tri-series Down Under. 

What history tells us is that the absence of a full-time coach isn’t a big deal. Back in 2007-08, India had three different ‘cricket managers’ with a settled staff. Venkatesh Prasad was the bowling coach and Robin Singh looked after the fielding. Fast forward to 2015, and you have a similar situation. Fletcher’s exit has left the seat vacant and there doesn’t seem to be an urgency to find a replacement. Sanjay Bangar, Bharath Arun (bowling coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) continue to form the coaching staff. Shastri remains Team Director, although his media commitments in England have come in the way in recent times. 

A report in the Indian Express suggested that the board’s advisory committee comprising Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman will soon gather to discuss the coach hunt. As India heads to Sri Lanka, the current staff remains in place with Shastri joining later as the Team Director. The advisory committee would know that there is no hurry in finding a coach. It is imperative that they find the right man for the job. 

Back in 2007-08, Kirsten landed the job after months of mystery. Likewise, the current unit can continue to grow until the new man comes in. India need to find a “mentor” in the mould of a Kirsten to take up the job. Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman would do well to remember their experiences as players in 2007-08 and deal with this situation. Rest assured; it would not be a hurried process. 

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist and anchor. He is one of the youngest to cover the three major tournaments — ICC World Cup, World T20 and the under-19 World Cup. He can be followed on Twitter at @nishad_45)