Chandrakant Pandit has a reputation for being a no-nonsense, tough disciplinarian, but the stalwart of home coaches knows he will have to change his ways when the likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Pat Cummins take on the next season of the IPL.
60 years ago India When the stumper takes on the role of head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the 16th edition of the league, he is ready to mold himself within the permissible limits.
“You don’t have to use the same method everywhere. One has to be a little flexible while trying to understand the psyche of each player, which is very important,” Pandit said of his appointment as KKR’s first Indian head coach. The latter told PTI during an interview.
“I always do this (study the players) and accordingly we can gain a proper understanding and move on,” Pandit said, adding that he used a “one size fits all” approach to coaching. do not use.
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He has no hesitation in admitting that some of the top players like Russell and Cummins have a lot of experience and will never use their Ranji Trophy method at the IPL level.
“These are experienced players. They have been playing at the highest level all these years and certainly the same method cannot be used at every level. You have to understand and study their modus operandi and make sure that more than anything else all the demands of cricket are met.
The prestige of demanding complete freedom and authority
Domestically, the state associations that have approached Pandit have always known that if you want his services, you have to give him complete freedom to play and run the show alone.
But will it be possible at the IPL level, where the demands are different and the people who are monitoring your performance are more business-oriented in their approach?
“I don’t know what happened to my image. But I understand that the job of a head coach requires taking things in such a way that they are result oriented.
“I don’t know how people see my ways, but I’ll try to make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given.”
And when it comes to instant results in the IPL universe, which is far from the Ranji Trophy, the ‘khadoos’ Mumbaikar said it is the same for all coaches.
“I just look at the game and believe that the requirement of a particular format needs to be met at that particular point in time. This is the process and it is not only me but everyone is doing it.
“Every format in cricket has different demands. When you play first class, you have plenty of time to try things out.
“The process that needs to be worked out in IPL is the ability to take quick decisions. It’s fast-paced but in the end, you’re playing a form of cricket.”
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Benefits of working with Shreyas, Abhishek
Former Mumbai legend Abhishek Nair is one of the key members of the KKR think-tank and captain Shreyas Iyer is also from Mumbai.
Incidentally, Pandit has coached both of them at different times in their careers and it is an advantage for them to adapt quickly to new environments.
“It is always an advantage to have players in the set-up with whom you have spent time and certainly the rapport that we have maintained over the years.
“KKR have Umesh Yadav, who played under my coaching in Vidarbha and Venkatesh Iyer who is an important member of Madhya Pradesh. I know all these boys personally,” added the man with six Ranji Trophy titles as a coach.
“And then you have Abhishek (Nair) and Omkar Salvi (support staff) who have played under my coaching. It’s a great advantage to get to know them all.”
But his biggest advantage is an encyclopedia of domestic cricket and a keen eye for talent who has coached teams for nearly two decades.
“Being an Indian coach and having spent enough time in domestic cricket, I know most of the players, whether they have played under my coaching or against teams I have coached. I know everyone’s skills and that’s my biggest advantage.”
Rejecting the offer more than a decade ago
Pandit had revealed that he once met the owner of KR Shahrukh Khan In the early years of IPL but things did not go well then.
This time when KKR CEO Venky Mysore was offered the job of head coach, he didn’t have to think twice.
“Yes, I got the offer after the Ranji Trophy final. Last time it didn’t work out. Not that people must have misunderstood it and more than anything, it is an honor to be a part of that franchise. ,
So, any special message from Shah Rukh?
“Nothing from Mr Khan, but I have got very good positive vibes from the KKR family. The support staff and players share a healthy relationship and that excites me a little bit as it creates a very cooperative atmosphere in the team,” he signed off.
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