Former Indian spinner, Dilip Doshi has asserted that in the current scenario, the international players should not need any assistance and be ready for the challenges. He also termed current Indian head coach Ravi Shastri’s actual role is of a manager than a coach. Doshi, who played 33 Tests and 15 ODIs for India said an international team should not worry about a coach.
In modern day cricket, a team gets a support of coaching staff, comprising off a batting, bowling, and a fielding coach, no teams want to leave any stones unturned in ensuring they increase the competitiveness in them. However, Doshi said even in the past not even the greatest of the teams had a coach and that a manager was more than enough. He cited examples from the past and added that during his time the Indian players depended on each other and help out their teammates.
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As quoted in Hindustan Times, Doshi said, “I believe there is no coach needed for international cricket. Ravi Shastri was himself a player, so he is more of a manager. Having been a successful cricketer, he knows what to say in the dressing room. But no great team – Don Bradman’s, Steve Waugh’s, the great West Indies teams, none had coaches. Our Indian team didn’t have one, we helped each other. At Test level, you only need managers.”
In modern day cricket, the teams are equipped with the modern day technology along with specific people whose role are defined within the circuit. Apart from that, there are several analysts as well who keep a track of players’ performances and help them correct their mistakes and improve their skills. However, according to Doshi if a player needs guidance from outside and is not able enough to find a solution on his own then he doesn’t deserve to play international cricket.
The former spinner said, “Today we have too many people running the game, too many involved in management. There is an abundance of money, so we have positions; jobs have been created to spend the money. You may need a fielding coach, a masseur, but if I have to guide a player, he shouldn’t be there at all. They should come in ready. You don’t need an analyst to tell you where to hit, or where a bowler has been hit. That makes the player lazy. What happens if the planning goes wrong?”
Shastri is currently mentoring the Indian cricketer who are locking horns with England in the ongoing five-match Test series. After losing the first two Tests, the visitors made an impactful comeback in the third with a comprehensive win by 203 runs. The team will aim to continue their winning run when they take on the hosts next at Ageas Bowl in Southampton in the 4th Test.
