Former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten has said that he isn’t looking at making a comeback as Team India’s coach. Team India’s backroom staff is all set to be revamped after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021 as the contracts of head coach Ravi Shastri and other coaches are set to end. Ravi Shastri and his team’s contracts were extended for two years in 2019 by the Kapil Dev-headed Cricket Advisory Committee.
Apart from a new head coach, India will also have new members in the backroom staff. While there are a number of veteran coaches who would be eager to work with India, one name that could pip everyone in the race is that of South African Gary Kirsten.
Gary Kirsten Isn’t Interested In Coaching India At Present
India’s only 50-over World Cup-winning coach, Gary Kirsten had a stint with Team India between 2007 to 2011. Apart from winning the ICC event, India also climbed to the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time under him. Gary Kirsten was in line to make a comeback in BCCI’s system when he was named as CAC’s first choice for the role of the Indian women’s team’s head coach, in 2018.
Since he was associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gary Kirsten couldn’t take up the job. He was also in the race to become the England cricket team’s head coach. But that too didn’t happen. A decade after quitting the coveted post, Gary Kirsten answered the million-dollar question of making a comeback as India’s coach and also spoke about his IPL gigs.
“Not at this stage. I’m involved in a business called CoachED (www.coachedcricket.com) which focuses on providing access to online coaching certification for coaches in academies, schools and associate countries. I’m passionate about coach education and I know, with personal experience, the value of quality coaching for any player. CoachED has afforded me the privileged opportunity to serve the game globally and work with young aspiring coaches,” said Gary Kirsten.
“India has very successfully moved ahead of the game and is using their primary competitive advantage (depth of players) to great benefit across all the formats,” said Gary Kirsten on change of Indian core and changes in fitness levels.
Gary Kirsten has said that he isn’t looking to make a comeback as Team India’s coach. Gary Kirsten was at the helm of affairs when India won 50-over World Cup in 2011. Gary Kirsten has coached Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in IPL.
Gary Kirsten: Coaching Is Very Different In The IPL
Former India coach Gary Kirsten, who has seen Virat Kohli from close quarters, reckons he has kept growing. Admitting that he has worked with Virat Kohli – the leader – for merely a year, Gary Kirsten believes the Indian captain is doing a fantastic job.
“I have really only done one season with him as captain. He is doing a fantastic job for his country. Like any young captain, with more experience and understanding of what it takes, he has got better and better. The are many fantastic match-winners in the Indian team, currently.” on Virat Kohli as new skipper.
“Coaching is very different in the IPL than in any other environment. I’m really enjoying coaching in T20 cricket which requires a different set of skills compared to working with an international team. I think the most successful IPL coaches have been able to create continuity with their playing squad. The relationship between the coach and the owner and the systems they co-create is vital to sustainable success,” on coaching in IPL.
“I believe too many owners employ new coaches and make big changes to their playing squad in the hope that there will be a quick turnaround of results and then ongoing success. Cricket seldom works likes that, especially with the margins for winning and losing so small in an IPL game,” on IPL.
“Coaching has changed significantly, especially in T20 cricket. Coaches are generally doing all the strategic preparation for matches and have close relations with Analysts who assist them with an endless and rich bank of data. Recruitment and match strategy has become as much a part of the skill sets of coaches as player relationships and man-management systems.” on coaching change.
“It’s an exciting time for coaches and I don’t think we are a long way before coaches can communicate with their captains on the field to make real-time strategic decisions,” concludes Gary Kirsten.
Gary Kirsten was the head coach of the MS Dhoni-led Team India in the 2011 World Cup. His guidance and expertise helped the MS Dhoni-led side lift the 2011 WC crown in India.
With the IPL second leg coming up, Gary Kirsten – who has worked briefly with Delhi and Bangalore IPL franchises -reckoned coaching teams in the lucrative league is very different. He admitted that he is enjoying coaching in T20 as it requires a different set of skills compared to working with an international team.