‘What motivates me is the challenge of the next day’
COACH OF RANJI WINNERS MADHYA PRADESH
MUMBAI: Chandrakant Pandit’s coaching style has evoked lot of interest after winning the Ranji Trophy with three different teams since 2015-16—with home side Mumbai and then Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh for their maiden triumphs. In this interview, Pandit talks about his coaching methods and what it takes to perform the high-pressure role. Excerpts:
Considered as the best coach in domestic cricket… What next for you?
I won’t say the most successful coach. I will say the most passionate and committed. Every coach has that kind of method and style of coaching; may be with God’s grace I am getting these results. Of course, credit goes to players who are responding to my method. I have been asked many times, what next? I am not going to decide. It is what is going to come in front of me. With my passion and love for the game, I really want to serve the game in a different manner that will help the country’s cricket.
Whatever I have learnt from Ramakant Achrekar Sir, I am taking it forward, may be in a different way. One thing sure has helped that I played my cricket in Mumbai. I spent time here in the dressing room, we were taught a different culture thanks to players like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ashok Mankad and Eknath Solkar. I am trying to carry forward the same dressing room atmosphere.
As a disciplinarian, how do you bring that comfort level in the dressing room?
We have committees in the team, let them take responsibility and make decisions. Then there is a team bonding session. Then many times when I have one-toone communication, I am softspoken to them. It has helped me, that without putting any pressure on them, they understood me. There are people who have just heard (about my ways) but when they see they realise it’s for the right reasons.
What is your winning formula?
Even I never imagined I will be part of six Ranji triumphs. If I have to go back when I had first coached the Mumbai Under-19 team... thanks to Madhav Apte, Sanjay Manjrekar, Milind Rege and Raju Kulkarni, these are the people who insisted I take up coaching. Initially I thought coaching will be easier because you have played. I realised you have to read every mind. So, I started recollecting why Achrekar sir used to do certain things, what difference it made to us. He was making us mentally tough.
How do you cope with such intensity?
I never feel I am tired. What motivates me is the challenge of next day. During practice, during nets, during off-season, the challenge is that certain areas have to be worked on. For a person of my age, being with younger boys keeps me going because you feel you are one of them.
No weekend breaks?
I never consider it. I don’t use WhatsApp because it may distract. My wife Mohini had come for the final a day before it was to start and was staying in the same hotel and I didn’t know. She called me at 10 o’clock, that I am here. I asked, how come? She said the MPCA joint secretary had invited her for the final. I said, “Ok, good night, talk to you after the final.” Yes, one has to give time to the family but because of the challenge of next day, the preparation, I don’t want to be distracted.
How does Pandit reward himself for a job well done?
That comes in the form of results. Ultimately that reward comes from the time I have spent with players—good way or harsh way. Harsh way, to motivate one as I feel one is mentally strong to take that. When that player reacts on the field and plays well, that is a reward.
How do you unwind?
I used to love to listen to songs (earlier). But during the three knockout matches, I used to get up at 2am, keep thinking about how to motivate the players. One cannot talk negative so I had to be very careful and prepare myself. There was no time for unwinding. Sanjay Manjrekar always says: “You will die on the ground”. I do spend time with family and friends but during the season, I avoid.
How does your wife react?
Any family will always have expectations. But I must give lot of credit to my wife Mohini that she has been managing so well. Not only now but even during my playing days. I had seen my son one year after he was born and my daughter after seven months. She understood me. She is the woman behind my success.
Shouldn’t you be considered for an India role?
I never thought about it. It’s not a question of what I have done. My principle is simple—if something comes your way, whether to take it or not (one decides). It is not about one saying I should be there or not. If something comes, yes, I’m ready to serve. Ultimately, I’m working for Indian cricket.
Seeing your record, BCCI should be tempted to hire you? But the feedback is he is too strict for superstars.
The impression is made by others. Probably somebody could understand me, somebody couldn’t. So, I’m not worried. In spite of that, there are associations that want me. If people didn’t like my method, nobody would have offered me a job. Every year, I get three-to-four offers. It shows that this method of mine in also useful. That’s how I see things and think positively about that.