I don't see any competition from Virender Sehwag or Ravi Shastri, says Lalchand Rajput
Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput believes that he doesn't see Virender Sehwag and Ravi Shastri as competitors for the Indian post while suggesting that the best will win anyway. The 55-year old has further added that his record as the Indian team manager in 2007 reflects well on his CV.
Lalchand Rajput is one of the six applicants who has been shortlisted for an interview scheduled to start tomorrow at 1 pm. The other five applicants- Virender Sehwag, Ravi Shastri, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, and Phil Simmons- would be all interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee(CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman.
However, the Afghanistan coach sees no competition in other applicants stating that everyone has their own attributes.
"I don't see any competition from Shastri or Sehwag or any others who have applied for the job. Let the best one win. I know we all are in competition, but I don't see myself competing with the other applicants. I have my own identity and they have theirs," Rajput told NDTV.
The 55-year old managed the Indian team for a brief period after their embarrassing World Cup 2007 group stage exit when Greg Chapell stepped down as the Indian coach, mentoring the men in blue to
The Indian team also went on to win the home ODI and Test series against Pakistan before winning the triangular series in Australia in 2008. Rajput revealed the challenges that he had to face when he took over as the team manager.
"My main aim was to get the players out of that terrible period. I was short of time. I had to adjust with the team as soon as possible. I just wanted to give them confidence. That was a major challenge for me. The team was in turmoil and I wanted to unite them. They were talented and I knew they will perform well in the big tournament and they did so in style," he said.
Rajput was one of the first applicants who applied for the post when the BCCI invited fresh applications for the post of the head coach of the Indian team.
"Not just me, many former cricketers have applied for the post," Rajput said.
"The advisory committee is there to decide who the best is. I have done my job in the past and everyone knows about that. The 2007 series is the major example. Let's the committee decide who the best person for the coach's job is.
"My record says I have done well," he added.
However, Rajput clarified that he wanted the best for Indian cricket and it won't matter as the best would be chosen to take up the job.
"When I was given the responsibility in 2007, I think I did my best. The result is in front of us. Let's CAC decide the best one. If I am the one, I will get it, if someone else deserves, let him take up the job. All we want to see Indian team winning," Rajput said.
When questioned regarding the qualities a coach should possess to succeed with the Indian team Raj[ut replied,"I am one of the applicants for the coach's job. It is must be in the committee's and captain's minds as to what kind of coach they need at this point
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