An “imposing character” like Virat Kohli will not be comfortable sharing power and hence split captaincy is not something that will work in Indian cricket, feels former England skipper Nasser Hussain.
However, he does feel that the Indian team management often messes up selections as they did in that World Cup semifinal against New Zealand and split coaching might be a good idea.
Hussain’s view on selection was echoed by India’s twin World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh, who wants to know how the current Indian coaching staff headed by Ravi Shastri is dealing with players of different mindsets.
Asked if split captaincy can work in India, like it did in England, Hussain didn’t sound confident.
“It depends on the character, Virat (Kohli) is such an imposing character, all encompassing, it would be difficult for him to hand over, he wouldn’t want to hand anything over. Whereas with England, we have (Eoin) Morgan and (Joe) Root, two likeable, laidback (characters),” Hussain said during a podcast on Cricbuzz.
However, split coaching is not a bad idea, said Hussain, a respected voice in world cricket.
“Coaches have so much to do, whether you should have a split coach, they have so much on their plate. Just to give you a fresh perspective like Trevor Bayliss for example.
“He cracked white ball for England, we didn’t really crack Test match cricket. So, maybe two different coaches would be the right way to go,” he said.
“One thing they don’t do well is selection like they couldn’t get a number 4 despite having so many great batsmen. Unlike New Zealand, who have only that many players to choose from, India have so much of talent, that after two failures, a new player comes in and then a next,” he said.
Yuvraj, one of India’s greatest white-ball cricketers, is baffled how Vikram Rathour can be the Indian batting coach for T20 cricket.
“You have guys like Vikram Rathour… he’s been my senior. He’s been a mentor when I was playing state, but with all due respect, if someone hasn’t played international cricket for a longer time, then the younger generation that is prone to more T20 cricket and 50 over… what are you going to tell them? Vikram Rathour might tell them about technique but there is no one to work on the mental side,” Yuvraj said on YouTube channel SportScreen.
In fact, Yuvraj believes the current coaching staff isn’t doing a great job.
“I am sure under Ravi Shastri, the players have done really well. They’ve won in Australia and done quite well. But my point is, as a coach I don’t know how Ravi is, I’ve hardly played under him.
“I know you cannot have a particular way with every player. You have to have different ways with different players and I don’t see that with the current coaching staff,” Yuvraj said.
