Pune: If you need a ladder for success, then Hrishikesh Kanitkar Would like to build the ladder himself before climbing it.
No matter how ludicrous it may sound, the former India player – a two-time Ranji champion captain with Rajasthan and a home coach with the ability to instill a different level of confidence in the team – seems to be a firm believer in the process.
Kanitkar, a former Pune-based Maharashtra captain who was associated with India U-19 as the batting coach for the past few years. Rahul Dravid At the helm, has now been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from January 14.
Kanitkar said, “It is a very talented team and eager to do well. They want to win and play for India one day. They have high dreams and aspirations and are working relentlessly to get there. have been.” The dreaded Test series Down Under in 1999-2000 told TOI in an interview. Being the batting coach of the Under-19 team during the last World Cup and associated with them National Cricket Academy ,NCA) In Bengaluru, Kanitkar knew the top job would be there in just no time.
“I was the batting coach when we played the last World Cup and since then I was in NCA and assigned to U-19 players. Due to the COVID situation, not many activities took place, but now I am back at NCA Under -19 as the head coach. With all this, there was a good chance that I would get the role. However, the best thing to do is to help this group of cricketers find their way, as they did a lot. Haven’t played anything. First-class cricket. You have a chance to make a positive impact. I consider myself lucky that I am getting this opportunity and if I can help them, they can go a long way,” Kanitkar , who also played 34 ODIs for India, said.
47-year-old Kanitkar said, “As players, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Usually it is our own expectations that let us down. Pressure comes with thinking about the results. But if you look at the result If you break away, you are left to focus on what you have to do. Rahul also strongly believes in this. If you play your best, you have done your all.”
Kanitkar has played his role as coach and mentor for various teams. Apart from playing a key role in Rajasthan’s twin Ranji titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12, he also deserves credit for shaping last season’s white-ball champion team Tamil Nadu.
He has been donning the mentor’s hat for many years and considers his father and former Maharashtra veteran Hemant Kanitkar, who played two Tests for India in 1974, as the biggest influence on him.
“My father (batsman-keeper) has taught me a lot and over the years, I have learned by playing with and against the legends. Tendulkar, A male name, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne And many more. I would not call them mentors and there was no concept of mentors in those days. But my father will always have the biggest influence on me.”
Kanitkar feels Dravidian He played an important role in showing the way.
“Working with Rahul was fantastic. I knew that if I did my job, he would support me. If I needed something to fix something, he would help me. But he would never interfere. We had the freedom to coach and mentor as we thought was right.”
Kanitkar believes that coaching the youth has its own positives and challenges. “These guys want to make a career out of it and are open to suggestions. When you ask them to try something, they have an open mind. Experienced players can shut themselves out and don’t want anyone to cut them off. Main The thing is to inspire them. Team spirit in the youth. It is important for them to know that if the team does well, then the attention will be paid to the individuals. Conversely, if the team does not perform well, then the individual talent too Cannot be noticed.” “The challenge is to step into their shoes every time you talk to them, not only about skills, but also about their insecurities, self-doubt and other psychological issues. It’s a challenge but exciting when You help them and they become pleasant. Surprised by the assessment.”
Starting from his junior days, Kanitkar has devoted almost three decades to Indian cricket. But they feel that whatever they have done cannot be called a sacrifice.
“Nobody forced me to take up cricket. It was my choice to play, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to me. Adhering to discipline, missing late night movies with friends and going on a diet never feels like a sacrifice.” It was like we did voluntarily. When you do it reluctantly, it feels like a sacrifice. But now that I have two sons in the house, it’s a little painful not to see them grow up,” Kanitkar said.
If their Under-19 players bring home the Cup, a personal regret could turn into another professional high.
No matter how ludicrous it may sound, the former India player – a two-time Ranji champion captain with Rajasthan and a home coach with the ability to instill a different level of confidence in the team – seems to be a firm believer in the process.
Kanitkar, a former Pune-based Maharashtra captain who was associated with India U-19 as the batting coach for the past few years. Rahul Dravid At the helm, has now been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from January 14.
Kanitkar said, “It is a very talented team and eager to do well. They want to win and play for India one day. They have high dreams and aspirations and are working relentlessly to get there. have been.” The dreaded Test series Down Under in 1999-2000 told TOI in an interview. Being the batting coach of the Under-19 team during the last World Cup and associated with them National Cricket Academy ,NCA) In Bengaluru, Kanitkar knew the top job would be there in just no time.
“I was the batting coach when we played the last World Cup and since then I was in NCA and assigned to U-19 players. Due to the COVID situation, not many activities took place, but now I am back at NCA Under -19 as the head coach. With all this, there was a good chance that I would get the role. However, the best thing to do is to help this group of cricketers find their way, as they did a lot. Haven’t played anything. First-class cricket. You have a chance to make a positive impact. I consider myself lucky that I am getting this opportunity and if I can help them, they can go a long way,” Kanitkar , who also played 34 ODIs for India, said.
47-year-old Kanitkar said, “As players, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Usually it is our own expectations that let us down. Pressure comes with thinking about the results. But if you look at the result If you break away, you are left to focus on what you have to do. Rahul also strongly believes in this. If you play your best, you have done your all.”
Kanitkar has played his role as coach and mentor for various teams. Apart from playing a key role in Rajasthan’s twin Ranji titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12, he also deserves credit for shaping last season’s white-ball champion team Tamil Nadu.
He has been donning the mentor’s hat for many years and considers his father and former Maharashtra veteran Hemant Kanitkar, who played two Tests for India in 1974, as the biggest influence on him.
“My father (batsman-keeper) has taught me a lot and over the years, I have learned by playing with and against the legends. Tendulkar, A male name, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne And many more. I would not call them mentors and there was no concept of mentors in those days. But my father will always have the biggest influence on me.”
Kanitkar feels Dravidian He played an important role in showing the way.
“Working with Rahul was fantastic. I knew that if I did my job, he would support me. If I needed something to fix something, he would help me. But he would never interfere. We had the freedom to coach and mentor as we thought was right.”
Kanitkar believes that coaching the youth has its own positives and challenges. “These guys want to make a career out of it and are open to suggestions. When you ask them to try something, they have an open mind. Experienced players can shut themselves out and don’t want anyone to cut them off. Main The thing is to inspire them. Team spirit in the youth. It is important for them to know that if the team does well, then the attention will be paid to the individuals. Conversely, if the team does not perform well, then the individual talent too Cannot be noticed.” “The challenge is to step into their shoes every time you talk to them, not only about skills, but also about their insecurities, self-doubt and other psychological issues. It’s a challenge but exciting when You help them and they become pleasant. Surprised by the assessment.”
Starting from his junior days, Kanitkar has devoted almost three decades to Indian cricket. But they feel that whatever they have done cannot be called a sacrifice.
“Nobody forced me to take up cricket. It was my choice to play, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to me. Adhering to discipline, missing late night movies with friends and going on a diet never feels like a sacrifice.” It was like we did voluntarily. When you do it reluctantly, it feels like a sacrifice. But now that I have two sons in the house, it’s a little painful not to see them grow up,” Kanitkar said.
If their Under-19 players bring home the Cup, a personal regret could turn into another professional high.
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