Chandrakant Pandit priotises Vidarbha coaching role over Indian women’s team

Chandrakant Pandit priotises Vidarbha coaching role over Indian women’s team

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Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman, Chandrakant Pandit has turned down the offer to coach the Indian women’s national team to focus solely on his Vidarbha commitment. Pandit, who took charge as Vidarbha Cricket Association’s coach, led the cricket team to Ranji and Irani Trophy title last year.

Tushar Arothe resigned from his post as the head coach of the Indian Women's team more than 12 months ahead of his two-year contract expires citing "personal reasons" for his decision to step down just four months ahead of the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. However, the reports came out that the rift with some senior players in the team was the major reason behind the resignation. Post his resignation, the board turned to the Mumbaikar, but he immediately refused, keeping his Vidarbha commitment at the top. The board subsequently appointed Ramesh Powar as the interim coach of the side. 

“We did offer the job to him. The women’s team are in a developing stage and he would have been an ideal candidate for this post. He knows how to convert an average team into a winning-unit. He has given result and the work he has done for the Vidarbha team is commendable,” a BCCI source told TOI on Thursday.

He was offered a job as a coach from six to seven associations after Vidarbha’s victories in Ranji and Irani Trophy. Even the sources in VCA could not stop praising Pandit and his unique approach.  

“He is one of the best coaches in the country. No wonder he keeps getting these offers. It is because of his disciplined approach and the knowledge he possesses about the game, Vidarbha achieved this feat. His is working on this team to make it even better,” sources in VCA said.

Another official mentioned Pandit’s unique way of doing things and how it helped the whole unit. Pandit even changed the dates of MN Dorairajan Rajan Trophy so that the players have some match practice.

“Earlier we used to focus on fitness before skills but with his suggestion, we had to reverse this strategy. He worked on each and every player one at a time. During the monsoon it was decided to work on fitness,” a source said.

“All the players have been given the areas they need to work on. He doesn’t want Vidarbha to be a one time wonder. Only when we start performing well on a consistent basis, our players would be in the national reckoning which will motivate others as well. The standard has been set high in the past three to four years and now it is all about maintaining it,” added a VCA source.

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