CHANDRAKANT PANDIT IS the current director of Maharashtra Cricket Association and the Coach of Ranji Trophy.
He was the former Coach of Kenya in 1997 and was also the former State coach of Mumbai (2001-2003)
What do you feel about the selection of players in the present Indian cricket team?
I feel that Team India is one of the best teams available in the country. The team is well balanced and has a lot of potential. The selectors have taken the Caribbean pitches in account while making the selection. They have visited the Caribbean on many occasions. Rahul Dravid has played earlier on the Caribbean pitches and is familiar with them.
The sudden demise of Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer has taken the cricket world by storm. The strange circumstances leading to his death have created speculation. Do you think it is a mystery or did he commit suicide on account of the Pakistan team not being able to perform?
Woolmer’s death is not a mystery or suicide but stress. Expectations of Pakistani cricket fans built an immense pressure on him. Here we need to consider the human aspect. If the team is not performing the coach is questioned as he is the supreme authority. No doubt, loosing Woolmer is a great loss to cricket as he was a great coach and motivator. He did a great job in the past with different countries. He was also a great motivator for individual players. It didn’t matter which country he was coaching. He always gave his best. Woolmer had the knack of handling the players. He was a great student of the game and could motivate almost any team and player.
What kind of changes do you see in terms of pressure on the team 10 years back and now?
There is a lot of pressure on contemporary cricketers from the media and fans. Cricket lovers have higher expectations from the players now. Earlier, everybody liked to see the game as an enjoyable sport. Now, the game has become more professional.
Certain cricketers have been eluded from their team on accounts of injury. Is it likely to affect their game?
Players have to keep fit in order to play. Fitness is ultimately the key to win. Cricketers resort to doping and somehow due to too much cricket end up suffering from injury. However, there is no subsidiary for fitness.
How does injury affect the overall game?
If the best players in the team are injured the team automatically comes under pressure. After all, cricket is a team game and the team tends to miss out on experience players who are capable of performing. The kind of pressure they are capable of building on another team is also missed out.
India lost to Bangladesh in the first match but bounced back to form in the second match against Bermuda. Where according to you does team India stands?
I agree that we shouldn’t have lost to Bangladesh, but then cricket is a very unpredictable game. The team which performs in one match might not necessarily perform in another match. In the match against Bangladesh, the entire Indian team was unable to play, which was unfortunate. People commented that the Indian team is not worthy of performing and better skilled players should have been included in the game. However, India created history in the next match against Bermuda by putting up a score of 413 runs which gives us a lot of confidence.
India’s next match with SriLanka is extremely crucial. Do you think India will win?
Cricket is a very unpredictable game. What leaves us with a hope is that India must have chalked out a plan against Srilanka. They are coming back in form in a rhythmatic way. At times you need a push to get back into form and the match against Bangladesh has given that push to our team.
Do you think it was the right decision to exclude Ganguly from the team?
Many a time when certain players are out of form and are unable to perform one has to take very harsh decisions. This eventually motivates them to come back and perform. In Ganguly’s case he has certainly showed improvement after coming back.
There was a lot of hype about mission 2007 when Chappell joined as team India coach. Has the mission been accomplished?
India has a long way to go because it is very difficult for the coach to immediately come up with a concrete plan. They have not yet achieved the target and have been working towards it. They are certainly on the way to bringing the world cup.
Do you think that Indian cricketers sign too many commercials and does that affect their game?
When the cricketers advertise in commercials the time is permitted to them. They only do commercials when they are relaxing and have nothing else to do. Cricket demands practice and I do not blame them for signing any commercial as they are committed to the game. Our cricketers are aware of their responsibilities and commercials do not affect their game.
This is likely to be Sachin Tendulkar’s last World cup. What kind of a performance is expected from him?
Tendulkar has not yet declared that this will be his last world cup however his fitness is going to be an issue. We all know Tendulkar, he is the master blaster. He loves to perform for himself and not for others. He has a reputation to maintain at the world cup and I am sure he will live up to the expectations of his fans.
Will India win the World Cup?
The present team is too good. I believe in it and very few players have been changed. We have the potential to win and I am sure India will bring the world cup.
Your favorite contemporary cricketer:
Ricky Ponting
Your all time favorite cricketers:
Sandeep Patil and Sir Vivian Richards
Favorite Captain:
Ravi Shastri
Favorite Coach:
Bob Woolmer
