Gary Kirsten says he doesn’t fit in IPL’s scheme of things as of now
Indian cricket coach says priority is Test team
Indian cricket team coach and former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten says he does not fit into the BCCI promoted Indian Premier League’s scheme of things as of now. Gary Kirsten, it seems, is wary of the huge sums of money which raw talents like Ishant Sharma has been attracting. Kirsten says IPL money poses a challenge to him as the national team’s coach, probably referring the distraction young players would be subject to.
For example, Delhi’s Manoj Tiwari, who has just played a one-day international, was bagged by his home team for $6,25,000, while Australian skipper Ricky Ponting went for just $400,000. Kirsten, who was in Australia for a few weeks with the Indian team, officially takes over as coach on March 1. Kirsten’s tenure with the team is for two years.
Kirsten would also have to spot a physio and trainer for the team. John Gloster and Gregory King have stepped down from their assignments with the team.It seems almost certain that Kirsten’s business partner Paddy Upton would play a key role in the team, though the role is yet to be defined.
Paddy Upton is a mental skills trainer. Gary Kirsten has also said he want to help senior players in the side to plan their retirement without a vacuum felt by the team, indicating his choice for a younger side. In the Indian test team, Sachin Tendulkar is 34, former skippers Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid are 35 and stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman is 33, while present skipper Anil Kumble is 37.Gary Kirsten , who has figured in over a century of Tests, is just three years older than Kumble. Incidentally, Kirsten’s stint as a Indian coach would start against his own home country South Africa. South Africa’s Indian tour starts in March.