After guiding the Kenyans to a new high in the World Cup, Sandeep Patil took fresh guard on home soil with his new assignment as coach of the India 'A' side.
"It's a new challenge and responsibility. I have started afresh like any newcomer on the first day today. I hope at theend of the day, I will do a decent job," the India 'A' coach said in Bangalore.
Assisted by Indian coach John Wright, Patil kick-started the 18-day coaching camp here for the Shiv Sundar Das-led India 'A' who wouldbe touring England from June 22 to August 3.
On his coaching stint with Kenya, which became the first non-Test playing country to reach the semi-finals of the WorldCup in South Africa earlier this year, Patil said he had "dumped" the assignment and "it all happened in the past".
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But he hastened to add that he got tremendous joy coaching the Kenyans. "That happened in the past. I don't giveimportance to the past. What's important for me is tomorrow. What happened is gone".
A modest man that he is, Patil is not willing to take credit for Kenya's wonderful outing.
"Players have to perform. Management has to work hand-in-hand. One needs support of theselection committee and parent bodies. When everything works, you get the results," he saidon the Kenyan campaign in South Africa.
Patil was closeted with Wright and selection committee chairman Brijesh Patel trying to "know the policy and ideas" of the selectioncommittee, as India 'A' began preparations at the camp.
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"It was a fruitful meeting. The help that I am going to get from Wright and Brijesh is very important for me," Patil said.
Wright would be here for 18 days assisting Patil in the camp, where he would also be joined by Madan Lal, who wouldlend a helping hand.
Stressing the importance of having "total rapport" withWright and Patel in coaching style and practice, Patil said "It's not that Sandeep Patil is going to work on his own or dosomething differently".
It (the synergy) is to ensure that when they (India 'A' members) step forward and step into the senior side. Theydon't have to do something else".
According to him, what was important was the concept of having an India 'A' side and not the England tour by it. Hepointed that the players would get good opportunities on the tour. After the tour, he could sit with Wright and discuss a "long-term policy".
Noting that the England tour was coming just before New Zealand's visit to India to take on the senior side, hesaid it was important for Wright to get the feedback from India 'A' players. "We have to give feedback to the seniorside."
My job is to prepare the team which will be ready to take the step forward (to get into the senior side)," Patil said.
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PTI
