Lalchand Rajput is an Indian cricket coach and former cricketer who was also the former head coach of the Zimbabwe national team. Lalchand Rajput played in two Tests and four ODIs from 1985 to 1987.
Along with the Zimbabwe team and the public, one man who’s excited for this long-pending tour by the Indian team is former India opener Lalchand Rajput. For someone who has been associated with Zimbabwe cricket first as a head coach (since June 2018) and then as a technical director (June 2022 onwards), Lalchand Rajput has by now developed an emotional bond with the game in the African nation.
Lalchand Rajput: It Will Be A Great Opportunity For Zimbabwe To Face India After Successful Outing Against Bangladesh
“It’s a great opportunity for Zimbabwe players to play against India and they are really looking forward to it. After having a very successful outing against Bangladesh, our spirits are very high.
“We will carry that momentum into the India series. Any Indian team will be a tough side to beat, but Zimbabwe will definitely not make things easy for them,” said Lalchand Rajput on Zimbabwe facing India for the first time since 2016.
“It will be good to catch up with my old friends, especially VVS Laxman (NCA head, India head coach for this tour), and other members of India’s support staff, as some of them were under me when I was the batting coach at NCA.
“Players like KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi were under me at the specialist batting academy and Shikhar Dhawan and Axar Patel were with me on a couple of tours with India A, where I was the coach,” said Lalchand Rajput on catching up with Indian friends.
KL Rahul will be leading Team India in the series and VVS Laxman will be assisting Men In Blue on the tour along with his NCA staff in the absence of head coach Rahul Dravid.
Lalchand Rajput Opens Up On Sikandar Raza’s Form And Missing Key Players Due To Injuries
Since replacing India-born Lalchand Rajput as coach in June, Dave Houghton has steered Zimbabwe to nine wins in 11 ODI and T20 matches. Apart from Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe will be without Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, and Wellington Masakadza, all injured, and unavailable former skipper Sean Williams against India.
“The present team is a good mixture of seniors and youngsters, though we are missing a few senior guys like Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Blessing Mazarbani, Tendai Chatara who are all in rehab because of injuries.” on quality of Zimbabwe side.
Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza, who starred in the ODI series, is part of the squad named on Thursday by recently hired coach Dave Houghton. His unbeaten knocks of 135 and 117 played pivotal roles in building a 2-0 lead over the Bangladeshis through two brilliant run chases.
“He is enjoying a purple patch and batting at his best. Our batting is revolving around him,” said Lalchand Rajput on Sikandar Raza’s form, having slammed two consecutive hundreds in the recent ODI series against Bangladesh.
“Since these are ODI Super League matches it will be good to get some points from them,” said Lalchand Rajput on earning points from ODI World Cup 2023 Super League.
“It will be good if the BCCI ensures that Team India plays often with sides like Zimbabwe as it motivates our younger players to take up this game and also helps in the overall development of the game in these countries,” said Lalchand Rajput on more India- Zimbabwe matches.
“They should be playing more matches and big teams like India, Australia and South Africa should play more often. We missed out on the T20 World Cup the last time, but the players and the Zimbabwe Cricket are very excited and happy that we have qualified for it this time,” said Lalchand Rajput on Zimbawe’s cricket future.
Zimbabwe announced a 17-member squad for three-match ODI series at home against India starting August 18. Wicketkeeper-batter Regis Chakbava was named captain as Chris Ervine continues to remain unavailable due to an injury.
Regis Chakabva recently led Zimbabwe to a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh and will be looking to keep the momentum going against a much-stronger Indian outfit.