Twitter
Advertisement

I am confident of handling Mumbai stars: Vinayak Samant

Newly-appointed Ranji Trophy team coach and former wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant, who idolises Dav Whatmore, says he will follow processes and is not somone to set big targets

Latest News
article-main
Vinayak Samant
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Vinayak Samant has more often than not bailed Mumbai Ranji Trophy team out of trouble when the famed 'khadoos' batting line-up has failed. The wicketkeeper-batsman would play his heart out and forge a partnership with another never-say-die Ramesh Powar and the tail, and take Mumbai to winning positions.

Six seasons after calling it quits, the 45-year-old Mumbaikar is faced with a similar situation – bail Mumbai Ranji Trophy team out and help regain its lost glory. It is considered a failure for Mumbai if they don't lift the Ranji Trophy. Even finishing second best, like they did in 2016-17 is not accepted. By those standards, the quarterfinal finish last season under Sameer Dighe's guidance was a disaster.

Ironically, last week, Samant pipped his teammate Powar to the post of Mumbai Ranji Trophy coach for 2018-19.

Samant is not new to coaching. He has honed his skills at the NCA, passing National Cricket Academy's Level 2 in 2015 and its Refresher Course in 2017, and given personalised coaching including those from South Africa and also travelled to Cape Town to work at Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy.

With the post of Mumbai Ranji Trophy coach comes pressure. And, Samant has been through it and seen it all as a player, being part of numerous victorious teams in his first-class career from 1995-96 to 2011-12.

"I have got good skills with batting and wicketkeeping. I should impart my knowledge to everyone. I have observed a lot of foreigners (cricketers) coming and taking one-on-one coaching. I thought why not our own players benefit from our coaching. This new role is a good platform for me as well. I can establish myself as a good coach, as a good human, become technically and practically as good a coach like Chandrakant Pandit," Samant told DNA in a chat on his new appointment.

Samant, who coached Mumbai U-23 in 2015-16, stresses on following the processes, something that Kirsten always insisted during his successful stint with the Indian team that culminated with MS Dhoni & Co lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.

Samant said: "If we really follow the processes, outcome will come in the positive way. I am not one to be setting big targets. I will take it match by match. In cricket, you will have good days and bad days. During good days, you have to keep doing the same good work and in bad days, it is how you take over that situation and come out of it. For that, you need confidence and have the right processes. Good process will help us win the tournaments."

The BPCL employee looks up to former Sri Lanka World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore "for taking the team from nowhere to lifting the World Cup in 1996" besides Mumbai's own Pandit and Pravin Amre under whom he has played.

"I want to be very fair with the players, be supportive. Being myself a player, I have to see to it that the players are comfortable with me and benefit from me. If they benefit from me, only then will they respect me," Samant, who has accounted for 310 catches and 37 stumpings in his 101 first-class matches, said.

Not having played international cricket, Samant does not see it as any disadvantage, especially when it comes to dealing with some of the international stars like Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur, and rising prospects like Prithvi Shaw.

"It is all about approach," Samant explained. "How they are going to accept me is up to them. I am confident of handling them. My role is to convince them with tactics and skills. They don't have to go my way. It is our way. It is not about individuals. It is about the team. That said, they are all big players, they understand the coaching aspects. And, I have played with them. So, there should be no issue between them and me. I don't have ego. Issues happen only when there is ego."

Samant stressed on 'ego'. "Communication is very important. There is no room for ego. Ego should be left on the field, and not taken to the dressing room or to the hotel," Samant said.

The whole nation looks up to Mumbai Ranji Trophy. It is not for nothing that Mumbai have won 41 times out of 84 editions. And, Mumbai's stalwarts including Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar closely follow its progress.

Samant said there is pressure even otherwise.

"I am not thinking about Sachin or Sunil Gavaskar sir watching Mumbai cricket. All Mumbai cricket lovers are watching us. It is the passionate Mumbaikars. There is a big responsibility on my shoulders to do well, to do better, for the Mumbaikars.

"If my father had a dream and I had to fulfil it, it is the same about the Mumbaikars and the Ranji Trophy team. We have to look at our status and keep the flag flying high. The pressure is going to be there. When I was playing, pressure was there on players and coach. Now, as a coach, there is pressure to deliver. I have faith in my players. If we play hard, good results will follow. I am not already thinking of winning Ranji Trophy or the one-dayers. I will take it day by day, and look at improving from the previous days."

During his playing days, with a star-studded Mumbai line-up with the likes of Wasim Jaffer, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan among the international stars and the domestic giants like Amol Muzumdar, Samant's utility in the field almost went unnoticed.

"When I used to play, when I was standing with a lot of big names, I dreamt of earning a name for myself and look someone unique. It is the same now as a coach. I want to be a different coach, make good relationship with my players and leave with a big impression," he said.

Samant has already chalked out his plans with the Mumbai Cricket Association on how to prepare for the season, that begins with the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers in September middle. "The idea is to assess the players' fitness, have a camp in Madhya Pradesh or Andhra as it will be dry there and then play some limited-overs tournaments like the JP Atray tournament as the season starts with Vijay Hazare Trophy," said Samant.

Samant believes in destiny. "Whatever you put in, will come back. While playing, I believed in it. While coaching, I follow the same principle," he said.

Know Samant

Name: Vinayak Radhakrishna Samant
Born: October 25, 1972 in Mumbai

  • Played for Mumbai as a wicket-keeper batsman
  • Made his First Class debut in 1995-96
  • Played his last First Class game in 2011
  • Accounted for 310 catches and 37 stumpings in his 101 FC matches with 2x100s, 22x55s
  • Passed National Cricket Academy's Level 2 coaching in 2015 and Refresher Course in 2017
  • Gave personalised coaching to visiting South Africa and New Zealand players
  • Travelled to Cape Town to work at Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement