Sanath Kumar K

He has taken a five-year sabbatical from Syndicate Bank where he works as an assistant manager. However, Assam’s Ranji coach and former Karnataka pacer Sanath Kumar K. says that he hardly has any time to rest given the spotting, planning, plotting, motivating and mentoring that he does. “Like the selector and the captain, a coach’s life is tough and thankless but I enjoy my job ...therein lies the challenge,” observes the 44-year-old during an exclusive interview with The Telegraph on the eve of the final conditioning and coaching Ranji camp. Excerpts from the interview:

The Telegraph: Why did you leave a team with a vibrant cricket culture like Karnataka for Assam, which is an underachiever despite being one of the oldest BCCI units?

Kumar: Achieving something special in Assam saw me accept the assignment. I knew they were a talented side. All they needed was a systematic approach and motivation. Not everyone is born a winner.

TT: What are your goals?

Kumar: My dream is to pr-oduce good cricketers as well as good coaches for the country. To realise my dream I took leave from office to become a full-time coach. Assam, incidentally, has become an integral part of that journey.

TT: How much time do you require to deliver?

Kumar: To do justice, any coach will need at least three to four years.

TT: This will be your second straight season with the senior team, the first for any outstation coach since 2001. Have there been any changes on and off the field?

Kumar: There is still a lot of ground to cover but anybody who has been visiting the ground and interacting with the ACA or the players would agree that things are changing for the better. Preparations have started early, facilities have improved, a Challenger-like meet has been introduced, the boys’ work ethics and body language is fast changing.... That I am into my second season with the team is another indication of the changing environment. The ACA has been very supportive so far.

TT: What are your immediate goals for Assam?

Kumar: My immediate goal is to put in place a system that will help Assam qualify for the elite group but also ensure that the team is a competitive side. I am thinking of having a pool of 30 talented and hardworking players to boost the bench strength.

TT: Anything particular you are harping on?

Kumar: Since I don’t believe in tinkering much with techniques at the senior level, I am looking forward to building a cohesive and competitive team. During the final camp which starts tomorrow, I have also designed net sessions which would be akin to match situations.

TT: How did the team fare last year?

Kumar: We did fairly well last season given the fact that we had a young and raw side. It was nice to see them fight it out.

TT: What is the strength of the team as of now?

Kumar: Our bowling. We have a very good pace attack in the making. Pace bowlers Sujoy Tarafdar, Pritam Das, Ranjit Mali, Abu Naschim, Krishna Das are talents to watch out for. They need to remain focussed.

TT: What is the secret of Karnataka producing so many cricketers?

Kumar: Besides a competitive league, school, age-group and zonal cricket meets with excellent infrastructure, they have a very good cricket academy. Above all, they really nurture and groom talented and sincere cricketers, notwithstanding lean phases.

TT: Who is the best coach in the international scene?

Kumar: It’s got to be Australia’s John Buchanan.

TT: And your favourite cricketer?

Kumar: Anil Kumble. He has limited talent but with sheer hard work and attitude he has achieved something unimaginable.

TT: Any regrets as a player?

Kumar: As a cricketer I regret not giving enough attention to my batting and also not deciding to play for some other states since getting into Karnataka XI was very tough.