Bipin Dani
The sport has taught the coaches to respect the players’ wishes, according to Purnima Rau, one of the stalwarts of women’s cricket in India.
The 56-year-old former middle order batter and the off-spinner, who coached Indian women’s team was speaking when learnt that the badminton player PV Sindhu’s coach Park Tae-Sang stepped down from coaching because Sindhu wasn’t happy with the start to her season this year (She lost three tourneys) , and that she was also looking for a change in coach. Park respected her decision and agreed to step down.
Speaking exclusively, she said, “ Park respected that decision. The game has taught the coaches that… But will it ever teach these players once he or she becomes coaches in their next phase ?”
Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami are set to take up the coaching / mentoring role in the coming WIPL season.
“Yes, the coaches outlive their time if that particular student has the gratitude to remember him or her. Virat Kohli has always been with his coach whether he has scored a zero or a hundred. That shows his character as a player. When these players had no money the coaches took them under their wings and provided everything. But once the sportsperson comes into money and fame they tend to forget, she added.
Dinesh Lad, who has produced several national players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur says, “his players who have gone to play for the country still keep coming to his academy to be trained or mentoring the youngsters. When they are not playing in the national team, they do come to me and share their views”.
“I believe that once the player has represented the country, he is under the umbrella of many coaches. These players need no coaching from a local man. They need a mentor. However, for any technical guidance or help one should not hesitate to consult the local childhood coach, who has taught him to hold the bat or a ball”.
Saad Bin Jung, the former First Class cricketer and the late Tiger Pataudi’s nephew says, “I do not have any idea how much badminton coaches are paid. I do know that tennis and cricket coaches are paid hefty sums. This is probably why stepping aside for a badminton coach could be easier than a cricket coach. In the end it’s all about the money.
“Cricket today is not the same gentleman’s game of old played by amateurs. It is played by highly paid professionals who are there to do a job for a massive corporate institution. They have to win at all costs. And running out the non striker is now par for the course”.
“The amateur cricketer didn’t need a third umpire or electronic review systems. We played for the fun of the game. We respected our opponents, at times, more than our own team mates. We cannot judge today’s cricket with earlier values. This is a new era. And everything that is within the laws of the game should be used to win”, he signed off.
