The tireless men behind Team India’s stunning redemption
23 March 2015 10:23 PM GMT
Almost all of them avoid the public glare, but work behind the scenes to take care of the needs of the players and keep them fresh for the big battles. The enviable seven-match winning run in the ongoing mega tournament in Australia-New Zealand has justified BCCI’s selection of the support staff, and its sheer size, 15, the highest for any side in the competition. After losing the away Test series against England 1-3 last year, BCCI overhauleed the backroom staff.
Fielding coach Trevor Penny and bowling coach Joe Dawes were sacked with former India skipper Ravi Shastri coming in as director of cricket for the ODI series. Joining Shastri were former India players Sanjay Bangar (batting coach), Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and ex-Hyderabad left-arm spinner R Sridhar (fielding coach). The change of guard bore fruit as the Indians clinched the ODI series 3-1. After the success, the board retained Shastri and co. for the Australia series and the World Cup. India’s performances in the Test and ODI series were far from inspiring but the World Cup saw the beginning of a new dawn.
Bangar got his appointment in August last year following his successful stint as coach of Kings XI Punjab as did Sridhar, who grabbed eyeballs as the fielding coach of the same Indian Premier League (IPL) franshise. Arun, who played two Tests and four ODIs in 1986-87, tasted success as in-charge of the team that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2012.
Arun seems to have done wonders in his present assignment, with Indian bowlers skittling out their opponents in each of the seven matches so far. Sridhar previously worked with the Indian senior side in 2011, helping it with its preparations for the World Cup at home. The Mysore-born was also part of the Indian Under-19 coaching staff in 2012 when the Unmukt Chand-led side lifted the trophy in Australia.
The Indian players’ energetic ground fielding, acrobatic saves and catches are testimony to his hard work. Besides the above quintet, team manager Arshad Ayub, another former Indian cricketer, physiotherapist Nitin Patel, team’s mental conditioner VP. Sudarshan, media officer DR Baba round off the the support staff. The other backroom staff: Raghu Srinivasan (Assistant trainer), Sandeep Anand (video analyst), Ramesh Mane (masseur), Amit Shah (yoga and masseur), MN Satheesh (logistic manager), Doug Lyons (security officer).
Fielding coach Trevor Penny and bowling coach Joe Dawes were sacked with former India skipper Ravi Shastri coming in as director of cricket for the ODI series. Joining Shastri were former India players Sanjay Bangar (batting coach), Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and ex-Hyderabad left-arm spinner R Sridhar (fielding coach). The change of guard bore fruit as the Indians clinched the ODI series 3-1. After the success, the board retained Shastri and co. for the Australia series and the World Cup. India’s performances in the Test and ODI series were far from inspiring but the World Cup saw the beginning of a new dawn.
Bangar got his appointment in August last year following his successful stint as coach of Kings XI Punjab as did Sridhar, who grabbed eyeballs as the fielding coach of the same Indian Premier League (IPL) franshise. Arun, who played two Tests and four ODIs in 1986-87, tasted success as in-charge of the team that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2012.
Arun seems to have done wonders in his present assignment, with Indian bowlers skittling out their opponents in each of the seven matches so far. Sridhar previously worked with the Indian senior side in 2011, helping it with its preparations for the World Cup at home. The Mysore-born was also part of the Indian Under-19 coaching staff in 2012 when the Unmukt Chand-led side lifted the trophy in Australia.
The Indian players’ energetic ground fielding, acrobatic saves and catches are testimony to his hard work. Besides the above quintet, team manager Arshad Ayub, another former Indian cricketer, physiotherapist Nitin Patel, team’s mental conditioner VP. Sudarshan, media officer DR Baba round off the the support staff. The other backroom staff: Raghu Srinivasan (Assistant trainer), Sandeep Anand (video analyst), Ramesh Mane (masseur), Amit Shah (yoga and masseur), MN Satheesh (logistic manager), Doug Lyons (security officer).
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