Gaekwad returns, promises change in fortunes

Gaekwad talking to the press © CricInfo

Anshuman Gaekwad made his reappearance as coach at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai on Thursday. After watching the Indian probables go through a lengthy session at the nets, Gaekwad spoke to pressmen. A refreshing change from the curt Kapil Dev, Gaekwad spoke fluently and freely to a bevy of media persons.

Addressing the volley of questions that were thrown at him, Gaekwad made it clear that he had taken up ``the job of interim coach only on a special request from the Board President AC Muthiah." He made it amply clear that he would not have accepted the job under normal circumstances. He added, "I have already been the coach of the Indian team for two years. There's really no question of me being an assistant to someone else." It's obvious that Gaekwad is not taking anything lying down. The Board has had to eat humble pie and request Gaekwad to step in and steady the ship.

In an otherwise routine press conference, Gaekwad said that he would be doing his best to improve on his record of last time. He also chose his words carefully and did not comment on the possibility of the Board appointing a foreign coach. "If I say that we need a foreign coach, people will say I am useless. If I say we do not need a foreign coach, then people will say I am safeguarding my interests," he said. The re appointed coach also reassured scribes that he had no worries about the presence of many youngsters in the team.

In a characteristically positive tone, Gaekwad said, "a team can't go anywhere with the thought of losing. We came pretty close to winning in the last mini World Cup. There's no reason why we can't do well."

Just a little more than a year back, Gaekwad addressed pressmen in Chennai before the team left for Sri Lanka to play the Aiwa Cup. Sachin Tendulkar was the newly appointed captain of India. Vinod Kambli was making a comeback of sorts. The game has come full circle. This time there's a new coach. And Kambli's back once more. Towards the end of the press conference Gaekwad said "Successful people don't do different things. They do things differently." All that is very well. If India beat Kenya in their first round encounter they are slated to go head to head with Australia. If they win, then things will change dramatically. Till India can form a winning habit, Gaekwad will not find the going easy.