Debate begins on next cricket coach of India

NEW DELHI: Should India have a foreign cricket coach or one of its own former players, cricket pundits were debating this question on Thursday in the aftermath of the controversial Australian Greg Chappell's resignation.

The fact that Chappell quit in a blaze of controversy has certainly dampened the enthusiasm of pro-foreign coach protagonists. But overall the opinions were divided albeit overwhelmingly in favour of an Indian coach.

India has given opportunities to Chappell and his predecessor New Zealand's John Wright and it is time an Indian became the coach, former India opener Chetan Chauhan said.

"I will prefer an Indian coach because we had already had two terms of foreign coaches. But now we should settle down on an Indian for two years and see the difference," he said.

"The feedback on foreign coaches is that they do not understand Indian culture, our players' psychology and language," he pointed out.

He, however, did not single out any cricketer who would be an ideal candidate to take up the job of coaching the Indian team.

"I don't have any names to take for the job but there are many names making rounds and any of them could be made the coach," he added.

Former chief selector Kiran More said India should persist with a foreign coach to maintain continuity in the training process.

"I am not against a foreign coach... There is a lot of pressure on players and coach now because of the media. But whoever is made the next coach, there should be a system in place. BCCI will have to take a strong stance and back the right people," he said.

Former paceman Atul Wassan said nationality need not necessarily be a criteria but it should be someone young like Robin Singh.

"I think the South African model is the right one. They have a low profile coach working with a fielding specialist, and fielding is the key, and fitness trainers," he said.

"I think instead of looking for big names or statures, we can go in for someone young, who has played the game with them (Indian cricketers). I think Robin Singh will be a good choice. He has been the India 'A' coach for sometime and knows the current trends. He is in touch with the game."

Wassan also said it should be a low-profile coach that too for only a year or two. "It should be for a year or two, like we have given the foreigners. I think probably that is one reason Indians who have been our coaches have not been so successful.

"There are many qualified. We should go for a low profile guy. John Buchanan, Bennett King, they have all been highly successful. I think we made a mistake by not hiring Tom Moody," he said.

He also suggested that BCCI should not appoint a coach at all for the next six months. "We might actually perform better. Players like Tendulkar and Dravid know all the strategising. Instead of having a symbolic coach, we can have specialised coaches for bowling, maybe, say Venkatesh Prasad.

"After all, when we won the 1983 World Cup and the 1985 World Series, we didn't have a coach," he added.

Another former cricketer VB Chandrasekhar supported the concept of having a manager instead of a coach for Team India.

"What we require now is a firm-willed cricket manager and not a coach. When we have stalwarts like Tendulkar and Dravid, there is no point in have a coach to teach them to bat. Mohinder Singh will be a good choice for the job," Chandrasekhar said.

"Perhaps a fielding coach like Robin Singh as a support staff and the manager can do the man management. The psyche of our players is such that when a foreigner advocates them to do something, they feel inferior.

"Ian Frazer was a misfit. I understand Frazer and Chappell were trying to teach Australian style of cricket as though we have not achieved anything. Whoever the Board appoints (as cricket manager), he should be an Indian," he said.

Legendary spinner EAS Prasanna said the whole issue had cropped up because India could not do well in the World Cup.

"The Board has to first define the role of a coach, should he be teaching the basics of any particular activity in coaching methods.

"All these years we were happy with a foreign coach. When John Wright was there, we did not care to think of an Indian to do the job. We went with a lot of expectations (to West Indies), we didn't qualify for Super 8 and therefore all the drama," he said.

Former all rounder Madan Lal, who had also coached India in the past, said "I think Indian cricket is going to be run just like that. We should not have any coach."

Former selector and chief coach at MRF Academy TA Sekar also backed an Indian coach for the team.

"If the Board is appointing a foreign coach, then they should also appoint an Indian coach as his deputy. So that the Indian coach is learning and imbibing at the same time. And then the Indian coach should take over.

"Whoever is the coach, he should be innovative, should gel well with the team and empower players. A good team make a good coach and not vice versa. Will John Buchanan, the best coach now, be able to coach Zimbabwe to World Cup win.

Sekar also said the coach should not pressurise the players to perform and should have good communication skills.

"If the Board is appointing an Indian coach, BCCI should recruit retired players taking into consideration the present team members' predicament.

"The Board should keep in mind that the Indian coach should be knowing the modern needs of coaching and should not be some one who has played the game 15 years back. Wright managed the Indian team for four years because he was not controversial and never pressurised the players and gave them a long rope before telling them if he does not perform he will be dropped."

"The expectations of Indians fans are very high. When we lose we go to the other extreme," he said. Your take