Dravid over Ganguly as the Indian coach

There has been a buzz over the possible successor of Duncan Fletcher, the current Indian cricket coach. Drawing parallels between the Singh, at the helm of the green well, to Duncan Fletcher is an unstoppable one. Both of them have thrived on silence, their prominent defense mechanism. The only solace is that the latter’s job is confined to the backstage. Under Fletcher, it has been a tumultuous period for the Indian team. The 8-0 drudgery abroad has hitherto been the worst mauling the team has ever suffered.  So, with the contract of Duncan Fletcher terminating, the question that looms large is, who would take over Fletcher’s job?

There have been calls for DADA to take over. Arguably the best captain of team India, Ganguly possesses one of the shrewdest cricketing minds. With the backdrop of match fixing looming over the team, in what is construed as the darkest chapter of Indian cricket, Ganguly had the fortitude to take over the helm. From a bunch of directionless youth which consisted of Viru, Yuvi, Bhajji, Zaheer, he built a team that would make it to the 2003 WC finals. Under him, they blossomed, transformed and transmuted. From a fickle youngster, they formed the backbone of the formidable Indian side. That is a testimony to his man management skills. He spots talent with a surgeon’s precision. Under crisis, he dazzles, his charisma being contagious. In the youngsters, he instills the flame that would keep lit their aggression and valour. He knows the country and cricket like the back of his palm. Yet, with all these towering attributes, he wouldn’t be able to fill the void.

Greg Chappell was a working example of how a forthright would be a misfit for the Indian coach’s job. Greg Chappell is an expert of the game. His consummate coaching skills was what the team was yearning for. He preferred to be at the forefront of the cricketing developments in the nation. He thrust his opinion on the team and went the extra mile to get the players to dance to his tune. He sought to bring in a wave of the changes and caught the system by its cuff  and looked to turn it by its head. That turned out to be a menace for the team and the players. Every player in the team is a star on his own. The last thing they would want is being bossed over. That was exactly what transpired within the team, starting with the ousting of Ganguly and the climax being the disaster of the WC 2007. When he stepped down as coach, he was being hailed as the worst coach ever. He shared a bitter rapport with seniors and the others too seldom vouched for him.

Contrasting him with Gary Kirsten, the most successful Indian coach ever, gives a clear picture. Gary Kirsten was the Godfather for many a youngsters and a friendly faculty for the seniors. He gelled well with the team and that which is called chemistry, peaked under him. He preferred remaining silent as long as things went well. He seldom tweaked a youngster’s game until he floundered. He provided the much needed room and let the players circumspect their own game. Sachin Tendulkar has great gratitude for him, for his thousand throw-downs that let the master stay afloat. He ushered the team to its zenith, the icing on the cake being the World Cup and the numero uno status in Test cricket.

From the conflicting and contrasting cases above, a few points emanate. We need a Gary Kirsten than a Greg Chappell. Ganguly and Greg trod along the same lines. The most coherent characters are Ganguly and Greg and that could have well been the reason for the spat. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the current Indian captain and a potential captain for three years down the line, has more or less attained the cult status Ganguly did. Today, the board adheres with his thoughts and so does the selection chair. He commands such clout in the nation. With Ganguly as the coach, a sharp critic, an authoritarian by himself, there would be an ego clash between the two of them. Being a sagacious captain by himself, he would detract Dhoni’s ways and that would lead to a bitter turn of events. To concise it, Ganguly the coach could be a Greg part II.

The Indian team needs a coach who would be an authoritarian, yet, affable. Someone who would walk with the youngsters rather than lead the way. A friend,  guide and a mentor. A complaisant coach and an Indian at it would be the perfect fit. Doesn’t this ring a bell somewhere?

There enters the erudite, astute and articulate master, Rahul Dravid. He walked his talk. His game was as eloquent as his speech is. The Bradman oration was one occasion where Rahul brought forth his articulate speech, providing great insights into the dynamics of the game. The voracious reader and keen observer he his, he is adroit at the game. The youngsters today lack the technical prowess as well as the temperament.He has the skill and the heart to diagnose glitches and correct them. He would do it in his own, subtle and gentle manner, and more importantly, as scrupulously as he batted. The insights he provides from the commentary box need to be done in the warmth of the dressing room.  Throughout his career, he was adept at playing second fiddle and never the one to hog attention. This quality of his is what I tried to elucidate above. Given his friendly and modest nature, he would strike a chord with the youngsters and pass on to be their perfect mentor. Given his eye for detail and his erudite knowledge, he is tailor-made for the job. The true gentleman he is, he was never amid controversies throughout his career. Given this, he would make the team devoid of the turbulence that could well be caused by astringent and monocratic coach.

Rahul Dravid would be a trade off between the authoritarian and a complaisant. He is an authoritarian in his own amicable ways. He would pass on his immaculate technique to the current lot that hates the stench of a cricket ball. He would pass on his mastery against spin and his discipline against the pacers. Last but not least, he would pass on his gentleman spirit that kept the cricketing fraternity in awe. The spirit of the game he upheld needs to be incorporated by the lads of today.

Ganguly might be the shrewdest and most dexterous coach, yet Dravid would be the palpable and affable friend, who would put his arms around your shoulder and set things right. The might of Ganguly might distort one’s ego, but the modest Dravid would let you grow in stature and be the guide, and strictly, only the guide. He could well be the coach the nation has been scouting for over the years.