John Buchanan and Shahrukh Khan

Calcutta: The Kolkata Knight Riders’ coach, John Buchanan, has quite a job on his hands. However, if others in the franchise are tense, after four defeats on the trot, he’s quite unruffled. But, then, that has been a Buchanan characteristic.

The demand on the coach’s time is heavy, but Buchanan managed to speak to The Telegraph in the lead-up to Thursday’s Indian Premier League (IPL) face-off against the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

The following are excerpts

Having been pushed into an unusual corner

(Grins) I lost 5 ODIs in succession as the Australia coach... That was in my last season, before the 2007 World Cup! There were probably as many losses on the trot during my time at Middlesex... Could even have been more... It’s not a place I’d like to reside... It’s not something you want to go through but, at the same time, I’ve always believed there’s a silver lining to every black cloud... In this case, it’s getting to know the people in the franchise better... When you’re not getting the results, it does test everybody and gives a picture of how strong you are. At the moment, I’m pleased with the way everybody has responded... One would always like to win, but that’s not possible... Getting back to your question, it’s not an usual feeling.

Getting over this unusual feeling

Well... I’ve got to deal with it myself... I’ve got to look at what I’m actually trying to achieve... Am I actually trying to achieve things too quickly? Or not too quickly? I’ve got to get the balance right... Am I communicating well enough with the players and the (support) staff? Am I giving them the right directions? Are we working hard enough? I guess you go through everything... The technical aspects... You look at the people around you... Indeed, you look at your own emotions... Your expectations... In looking back, what’s encouraging is the 104-run sixth-wicket partnership between David Hussey and Wriddhiman Saha in Mohali... It showed what could be achieved by the Knight Riders... And by one of the local players... I can’t believe that this franchise won’t be successful... The point, of course, is it may not be this year. We’re desperately trying to make the semi-finals... Whether we do or not, who knows... At this stage, all I can say is that we’ve moved from frontrunners to rank outsiders. Eight matches remain... (After a pause) We’ve had this discussion before... How do you usually measure success? By results. Having said that, success is also measured by the right process, by having the right people... By striking the right balance between results and the process... I remain immensely confident about this franchise.

The difference being made by principal owner Shah Rukh Khan

It’s because we have somebody as passionate as Shah Rukh that I just can’t believe this franchise won’t work... Starting from the top, with Shah Rukh, we’ve got a fantastic mix of people... Shah Rukh is always flooding us with text messages... Winning or losing, he wants us to know that he’s there with us... It’s not just Shah Rukh, (co-owners) Juhi and Jay Mehta have been as fantastic. The whole entourage, in fact.

Having divided his assignment into stages

The first stage, in the first year, entails exploration... The players, the staff, the city of Calcutta, the community... It’s about exploring everything... Then, comes development in the second year... Obviously, one learns a lot from the first stage and develops from there... The third year is the implementation stage... I expect the franchise to be profitable and the team would by then be playing exceptionally well... Beyond that is what I call capitalisation. We’re aiming to be in the front but, at the moment, that’s not the reality.

If there’s a formula to regain momentum

Before the IPL began, I’d reckoned that round 6 or 7 would give one a clear picture for, by then, the ones who had to leave (like Ricky Ponting) would’ve left and the replacements (Brad Hodge, for example) would’ve settled down... We’ve got a handle on the fact that we’re just outside the top 4... The other night (in Mohali), there were misfields... That showed tension and not trying to do the wrong things as opposed to backing yourself to doing the right things... For the momentum to be regained, each individual has to prepare himself in the best way possible... After that, it’s about going out and trying to play with the freedom that will allow their skills to come through. It’s much easier when you’re winning, not so when you aren’t. The emphasis is on the individuals trying to get back to their (normal) game... We’re putting a bit of structure into our game and having stability in the line-up... If it doesn’t work, then there’s probably little else that can be done in the first year.

Whether the Knight Riders’ strategy at the first auction should’ve been different

But all teams have gone through the same thing... Some players leaving after a few matches and others joining the squad... It would’ve been nice if Ponting and Brendon McCullum didn’t have to leave... It would’ve been nice if Chris Gayle didn’t get injured... But, then, you’ve got to build a team... Build a franchise... It’s important for the players who we see as being a part of the future also being a part of the present...

The way forward for the Sourav Gangulys

When the going isn’t good, there’s a tendency to retreat within one’s self... Within one’s game... In my view, though, that’s the time to go out... One shouldn’t be retreating... Just staying in the areas that we know hasn’t been working... We need to actually expand ourselves a little bit... That needs courage... Leadership... It’s not the time to head for safe areas and be isolated... That’s what I’ve been trying to emphasise... The players have been responding, but we haven’t been giving ourselves a chance on the field.

Whether there’s an appreciable difference when it comes to preparing for Twenty20 cricket

Not really... The basics are the same... The players need to know their game and combat situations with not just technical, but mental skills. As Shane Warne put it very well, bowlers construct an over. The batsmen, clearly, need to do likewise.

Finally, how much of a role can a coach actually play

If people begin to comment on my methodology or style when the going isn’t good, then that makes me more determined to get the style and methodology working... Makes me work harder... There are very good people in the franchise and I certainly won’t be letting them down. I can’t, as Ian Chappell once pointed out, take the catches or score runs on the field... My job is to make sure that the environment is one that the players make good use of... I’ve been working very closely with (captain) Sourav and making sure that we’re on the same track. Also, that when he gets on to the field, everything is as good as it can be... Part of the coach’s job is to make sure everyone feels like a member of one big family... One where we applaud each other’s success and cry for each other’s lack of success.