Creating bench strength for Indian team prime focus: Patil

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: November 5, 2009

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Bangalore: The newly selected director of the National Cricket Academy, Sandeep Patil, who replaces Dav Whatmore at the coveted post, said on Wednesday that his prime focus is to create a world class bench strength for the Indian team so that they don’t have to face the same problems that teams like Australia are facing right now.

Patil wasted no time in making his intentions clear as soon as he took over the responsibility of being the NCA Director (Operations) from Dav Whatmore that his topmost priority is to create a pool of players who can be thrown into the rigours of international cricket at any given time.

“It will be my responsibility to strengthen the reserve strength for replacements in Indian cricket. We should not get into a situation like how Australia finds themselves in the ongoing one-day series. We need to have players ready to play international cricket at any given time,” Patil said while addressing the media here on Wednesday.

“I have just about started going through the journals of the NCA. Dav Whatmore and his team have done a commendable job over the last two years. Honestly, I would be happy to do just ten per cent of they have achieved. I would like to take it forward and produce outstanding cricketers from the NCA stable,” said the 53-year-old, who scored a blistering 174 against Australia at Adelaide in 1981.

Patil also took the opportunity to thank the BCCI for giving him a chance to use his experience at such a platform saying that it was time he gave back something to the game that has given him so much.

“I thank the BCCI for giving me this huge responsibility of shaping the careers of aspiring cricketers. The Board has done well in providing state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure and put a good support team in place. Now, it is my turn to contribute my bit to Indian cricket,” he said.

“Since I have 23 years of experience as a coach, I should be able to make some difference. But having said that, I must admit even now I am a student of the game and I will continue to be one wherever I am,” added Patil, who was coach of the Indian team during the 1996 tour of England.

Patil was among the officials who were banned by the BCCI for joining the rebel Indian Cricket League and Patil hoped that after having a tainted career as a player and a coach so far, his association with the NCA would be a longer one.

“As I have had a staggered career as a player and coach, I hope to have a long association with the NCA. But this would depend on the BCCI,” he said.

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