Former India opening batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged IPL franchises to consider appointing former Indian cricketers as assistant coaches, underlining the value they can bring to the team during the season.
In his exclusive column for Sportstar, Gavaskar noted that some Indian players in the IPL may struggle to understand or communicate in English. He explained that an Indian assistant coach could help bridge the language gap by accurately conveying an overseas head coach’s instructions, ensuring players understand the plans and strategies clearly.
“Every franchise squad invariably has more Indian players, as only four overseas players can play in the XI. Plenty of the Indian players come from the interiors of the country, where English is not widely spoken. Therefore, when an overseas coach is speaking, much of what he says goes over the heads of these young players,” Gavaskar wrote on Sportstar.
“Here, it makes perfect sense for the franchises to hire an Indian as an assistant coach who can translate and convey what the overseas coach is saying. It is easier for the youngsters to approach an Indian coach who can speak their language, empathise with them, and help them overcome the nerves and anxiety of playing in front of the huge crowds that the IPL attracts,” he wrote.
Concluding his column, Gavaskar suggested names such as Praveen Kumar, whom he praised for his ability to swing the ball and use variations, including the occasional bouncer, to keep batters on their toes.
“Names that readily come to mind include Praveen Kumar, a terrific swing bowler who cleverly mixed his deliveries and bowled the occasional bouncer to keep the batter guessing, and Piyush Chawla, another smart bowler who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team. If age is not a factor, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, too, has a deep knowledge not just of swing bowling but of the game itself,” Gavaskar concluded his column.
