Local coaches grappling with problems caused by the Indian Premier League
Local coaches grappling with problems caused by the Indian Premier League
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For the time the Indian Premier League captivated audiences across the world, there weren't too many faces associated with cricket that did not have a smile.
From players to officials to commentators to fans to small-time businessmen selling goodies, IPL was a time to be happy.
But at Shivaji Park, considered to be the cradle of Mumbai cricket, coaches are not very willing to join the smile brigade.
Coaching has always been a tough task and the advent of T20, more particularly the IPL, has only made it more difficult.
The craze of cricket's shortest version and the onus on big-hitting has made an impact on their wards especially the younger, easily impressionable ones. And as coaches, they know it's their job to make sure the basics of batting are in place before kids emulate their favourite stars' fancy shots.
Huge influence
"It's something you cannot help. IPL and T20 are very popular and the kids are going to be influenced," says Sandesh Kawle, coach of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana Academy. Since decades, SPG has produced Test cricketers by the dozen.
"They want to try shots that international players playu2026 the paddle sweep, the reverse sweep, playing away from the body," adds Kawle.
For those who grew up and played cricket in the times when Test cricket and its demand for discipline and technique were necessary, things have changed for the worse.
"How can cricket only be for 20 overs?" fumes Suryakant 'Papa' Taskar, a SPG coach, who played most of his cricket with greats like Vijay Manjrekar.
"Even 10 overs cricket has begun. Does this mean there will be a time when matches will be decided only by the flip of a coin? I don't understand how this can be called cricket and it will only erode the basics of playing cricket. One of the basics of cricket is discipline and staying at the wicket to score runs. Hitting every ball is not cricket," Taskar adds.
Many like Taskar know they need to do whatever they can to make young aspirants realise the importance of learning proper technique and discipline. And they have already started working their way around the IPL phenomenon.
Showing the way
"As coaches, we have to show them the right way. If they are influenced, we have to make sure that the influence wears off quickly and they realise what they need to do to be successful in the long run," Taskar feels.
Another SPG coach who shares the same sentiment is Kiran Adhikari, a formidable batsman of his time.
"You have to accept that T20's influence on the game and players is only going to increase. And it has already started affecting children adversely," says Adhikari.
"I cannot stop them from watching IPL matches. But if they try to replicate those shots in the nets, I immediately put an end to it.
"They need to stick to the basics and that's what coaches must teach. And since they are going to watch matches, I ask them to concentrate on running between wickets or the technique they show while playing proper shots. I also tell them that their time to hit such shots will come. But for now, they have to be patient," says Adhikari.
Even Kawle, who works for Air India, the team that won the T10 championship earlier this year, feels coaches need to step up a gear.
"It is not that big a problem with players in the under-19 age group as they will be playing T20 matches for their employers and need to practice accordingly from time to time. But we need to be careful with players in the under-17 age group and less," says Kawle.
"If these players do not learn the basics of batting, they will not be successful. And as coaches, we have to make sure that these children only stick to playing proper cricketing shots.
"We are even ensuring that players below the under-17 age group play only two-day and 50 overs matches so that the importance of staying at the wicket is not lost on them," Kawle says.
However, another SPG coach Praveen Amre, who has sailed in both boats, believes coaches too need to freshen their approach towards the shortest version of the game.
"There is no doubt the role of a coach has become all the more important after T20 and IPL," says Amre, former Test batsman and assistant coach of Mumbai Indians.
New approach needed
"Technique is of essence and unless coaches teach the basics, children will not become good cricketers. All of us grew up learning these basics and they always hold one in good stead," says Amre.
"But you have to accept that T20 and IPL are here to stay. They have been hugely successful with players and fans. Also, there are a lot of cricketers who have earned fame, recognition and money by playing in the IPL.
Otherwise, nobody would have noticed them," says Amre.
"Just like them, many others would also be looking at making a name for themselves. And in that sense, the IPL has been a boon.
"That is why coaches need to realise and treat their wards differently. Many cricketers may not have the skills to play Test cricket but could be very effective in T20 as a different set of skills is needed here," Amre adds.
"T20 has given them another avenue to be successful in cricket and coaches can help youngsters by guiding them properly. It is now up to the coaches to realise who can be successful in which type of cricket," Amre says.
How coaches adapt and adjust to these changes will play a big part. After all, today's youngsters could be tomorrow's stars.
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