New Delhi: In 2010, when Rajiv Kumar decided to hang up his pads after 17 seasons of first-class cricket, he had no plan to become a professional coach.
What influenced his decision was an observation by his wife, Rebecca, who always thought Rajiv would become a successful coach. Convinced, the former middle-order batsman resigned from his bank job and took up full-time coaching.
Today, yet to turn 40, Rajiv is regarded one of the best in the business. Having taken over the Jharkhand state senior team last season, he has turned them into a formidable side.
In 2015-16, Jharkhand made the quarter finals in all the three formats. In the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign, Jharkhand are currently placed second in Group B after three wins and three draws and are all set to make the knock-out round.
A Level II coaching degree holder from England, Rajiv divides his time coaching in England and India.
He coaches six months in Cheshire and Staffordshire and returns to India before the start of the domestic season.
While many feel the coach has transformed Jharkhand into a crack side, Rajiv chooses to stay modest. "They were a great bunch of individuals when I took over the Jharkhand Ranji side. My job was to turn them into a kind of combination, who will do everything for the team's cause.
"All I did was to make the boys understand that it is the right process that matters most; the results come later. If the process is right and the approach is fearless, the results will automatically follow... The much needed consistency will be there. The boys have understood the philosophy," said Rajiv.
"It it all about preparations... Your body, your training style, your food habit. Combination of all these factors takes a cricketer ahead. Added with it is the self belief," the coach revealed.
Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president Amitabh Choudhary, the man instrumental behind roping in Rajiv, is extremely hopeful.
"I should not comment about the team, coach or the players in the middle of season, but Rajiv has certainly made the difference. The results are showing. I am sure many more things will be written about him in near future," said Choudhary.
