Guess who just applied for the post of Team India’s head coach

Tags: Sandeep Madhusudan Patil

Published on: Jun 04, 2016

None other than chief selector Sandeep Patil has applied for the vacant post of India’s head coach

None other than chief selector Sandeep Patil has applied for the vacant post of India’s head coach. The BCCI had put out an advertisement seeking applications for the position, on its official website, a few days ago, following which Patil decided to try his luck at the high-profile post. It may be recalled that Patil had coached India back in 1996, but his contract was terminated after merely six months. Since, he has gone on to coach Kenya with reasonable success, before being appointed chief selector in September 2012, and has held the post since, taking over from Krish Srikkanth.

Patil confirmed to PTI that he has indeed applied for the post. While Sanjay Bangar has been named the interim coach for the tour of Zimbabwe, which begins in a few days’ time, India will most probably have a full-time coach by the time it heads for the Caribbean for a four-Test series in July. India have been coach-less since Duncan Fletcher’s tenure ended in 2014 after another poor tour of England. Ravi Shastri filled in as the Team Director, but his tenure too ended after India’s WT20 exit at home to West Indies.

If Patil is chosen for the job, he will have to quit the post of chairman of selectors, which means India will have a new chief selector in place along with the fresh coach. A dashing batsman and part-time medium pacer, Patil played 29 Tests and 45 ODIs for India. He has four Test tons to his name, and was also part of India’s 1983 World Cup winning squad. Post retirement, he gained fame guiding Kenya to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup as coach. He was also the director of the National Cricket Academy from 2010-2012.

What BCCI’s application states

In its application on bcci.tv, BCCI states as below

Candidates applying for this position will need to fulfil and demonstrate evidence of and knowledge in:

1. Should have successfully coached a cricket team of any of the member countries of the ICC, at the first class or at the International level.

2. It is preferred that the candidate should be qualified through a certification/assessment program conducted by any of the full member countries and currently possess such a valid certification.

3. Should be able to prepare and present a coaching plan elaborating the approach for ‘Team India’ to attain leadership position in all formats of the game.

4. Demonstrate methods/tools to effectively measure individual player performance and present metrics to the Board, which will in turn measure the performance of the team, on a consistent and timely basis.

5. Demonstrate an understanding and ability of employing a multi disciplinary approach that will include sports psychology and sports medicine, and effectively manage the work load of the players, thereby enhancing their contribution to the cause of the team.

6. Communication skills befitting the coach of an International team are mandatory along with the ability to effectively convey the right messages and must demonstrate proficiency in English. The ability to communicate in an Indian language is desirable but by no means mandatory.

7. Should be well versed with the latest technologies/trends in sports software and ability to utilise the same, which will assist in analysing/ improving the performance of the player and the team.

8. Mandatory that the candidate should have an impeccable personal record, devoid of any past or current disputes, with any of the member boards of the ICC or its affiliates.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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