Sridhar was an integral part of team india Coaching set-up headed by Ravi Shastri,
He played a big part in the team’s noticeably improved fielding standards and in an exclusive interview answered questions about failures, his own stature, different eras of fielding and the support staff between 2014-2021.
Part:
Q) India had some bad days, 36 in Adelaide, 78 in Leeds. How did you handle the bad days?
a) It was a wonderful learning opportunity. For me, as a coach, a bad day is a great coaching opportunity. Good days are not great coaching opportunities but bad days are.
When I say coaching is an opportunity, it is about understanding the individual, building good relationships with the players, giving them the opportunity to train technically and mentally when needed.
You get to know about the player and the team. Basically how you are on your bad day says what you are in as a team. This team was excellent in terms of flexibility.
Recently, Greg Chappell called and asked Ravi bhai, “How do you bounce back after so many losses. It is a benchmark for this team. Every bad day was used like a gold mine.
Q) Have you ever had differences with Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun?
a) I believe it is important to have differences of opinion among coaches to reach the best conclusions. We always had differences – whether it was me, Ravi Bhai, Bharat sir, or first Sanjay (Bangar) and then Vikram (Rathore). But we were all working towards the same goal.
There is a subtle difference. We wanted the same for the team.
Two can agree and one disagree on something. But after that conversation on different perspectives, we take a decision which best suits Indian cricket. We never felt like our ideas were rejected.
With Ravi bhai, you could always go and tell him, this is what is happening now, maybe you should change the batting order, talk to Sanjay or Vikram, backed by data, stay smart in the game For.
Q) What made Ravi Shastri tickle?
a) Leadership qualities and human management skills. These are the most prominent of his (Shastri) qualities that come to mind. He could have got things done whether it was from the CoA or then the BCCI.
His stature was huge and it was needed. He was a players man and knew what the players wanted and helped them stay in that position. A good leader and excellent man manager.
Q) You have not played any international cricket. What was your level of acceptance among the players when you joined the set-up?
a) Good question. I was one of the first non-international India coaches in that set-up. It really helped me in my coaching journey as I knew what it took to handle setbacks. I didn’t play international cricket because I wasn’t good enough to play.
But I knew what it took to become an international cricketer. It might have given me a slight edge but after playing FC cricket for 11 years I got enough knowledge about the game to handle my coaching skills.
If you are able to give the player what he wants, they don’t care whether you have played 0 Tests or 100 Tests. They don’t care as long as you are able to help them get better and as long as you have the knowledge and understanding of the game and help them become better players.
I told him on the first day, look I haven’t played international cricket but I can help you guys become better players because I already coached for 14 years. Nowadays it is clear that coaching is more at work and you cannot do it just by sitting in a chair.
Q) How did you handle the star players?
a) For me all players are the same. They are confident and playing at a certain level because of the skill set. None of our players have arrogance and are simple, grounded people.
If you can open the channel of communication and help them stay in your area, that’s not a problem. They are ordinary boys. They are open to suggestions, they want communication, conversations about game-plan strategy. With his experience, he is sure to have a point of view that is often not correct.
Q) You have played for Hyderabad with Mohammad Azharuddin and coached Ravindra Jadeja in this national team. Tell us which of the two of us can call the better fielder?
a) It is difficult to judge fielding in different eras and on different parameters. When Ajju Bhai (Azharuddin’s nickname in Indian cricket) made his debut in the 80s, there was no fitness culture in Indian cricket.
It only started in the late 90s and Ajju Bhai was a stand-out because of his athleticism and because he had great hands, good throws. Maybe the benchmark was different.
Jadeja is one such player who is pleasing to the eye even while chasing the ball over the boundary. He is comfortably above that in world cricket. Azhar was the same during his time.
Azhar from 1985 to 1990 would still have been a prolific fielder, be it slips, close-in or lightning in the outfield.
Q) How does one become a good slip fielder?
a) Practice brings confidence and also knowledge of the situation which brings consistency. Being sure, of course, helps (smiles). When you are sure in the team, it helps you become a better slip fielder. So we have Pujara, then Virat, then Rohit, who is an excellent slip fielder.
The right person in the right place brings consistency. This is part of planning and preparation.
Q) Why do we keep seeing newcomers go short-leg or silly to the point?
a) A new player is always encouraged to wear a helmet because — first of all, he has better reflexes. Secondly, he is more fit than the old player and last but not least, he can stand in that position for a long time. This is my understanding.
But it is a myth that seniors do not stand in close positions. Pooji (Cheteshwar Pujara) was standing at the close-in in Kanpur. Ajinkya (Rahane) will stand close in a few days, Laxman, and so did Rahul (Dravid) till his last Test. Alastair Cook stood on silly point and short leg in his 164th and last game.
Q) How do you summarize your journey and how is the Indian fielding now, from where you started in 2014?
a) Obviously, this is the best period of my life. I cannot be dissatisfied but there is always room for improvement. Coaching philosophies and coaching methods also keep changing as you start that journey and reach the end. As far as the level of Indian fielding is compared to the time I took charge now, it is up to the people outside to do it justice.
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