Former Indian Skipper Sunil Gavaskar thinks that the time has arrived when the India coach Duncan Fletcher should be replaced by some young and more energetic coach. He wants someone instead of this 65 year old Former Zimbabwe player, who can move the players and amplify their energy as the World Cup is knocking on the doorway.
Gavaskar has blamed Fletcher for India’s back to back poor performances and specially when the World Cup is about less than a year away. He pulled the trigger to Fletcher directly, “It (Indian cricket) seems to be in a free fall that looks tough to arrest,” he writes.”What Indian cricket needs right now is a younger coach who will want to be out working with the team and not looking to put his feet up at the slightest chance.”
Gavaskar finds team India very average under the supervision of Fletcher. But he remembered how team India had taken the number one spot in Test Cricket under the coaching of Gary Kirsten. Gavaskar was seemed very respectful when it comes to Kirsten. “Kirsten was enormously respected by the players because he had done the hard yards in both forms of the game. Kirsten knew the value of practicing to get better and under him the training sessions were competitive, productive and enjoyable,” Gavaskar said. “Since his departure, Indian cricket has just slipped and slipped.” He showed remorse and regret.
During the time of Kirsten’s coaching, between 2008 to 2011 India won the ICC World Cup and claimed the number one position in ICC Test Cricket ranking table. Only what is uncanny is that Kirsten proposed the name of Fletcher when he passed on the job as the coach of Indian team. Gavaskar thinks it might be happened cause of Fletcher’s previous performance records. But as the Indian coach, he surely could not manage to motivate the Men in Blue.
Now that the World Cup is not so far away, Gavaskar thinks that it is a threatening condition of the Indian team and the fans must not look forward to grab the Cup. Because if India is to win the prestigious tournament, someone inspirational character has to stand for the team right at once.