How Pandit fired no-hopers Vidarbha to first-ever Ranji title
Indore, January 2
Spurring a bunch of underdogs to India's biggest prize in domestic cricket is no small task, but so confident was Vidarbha coach Chandrakant Pandit that even before the season started, he asked his wards what they would do with the prize money after winning the Ranji Trophy.
Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) vice-president Prashant Vaidya revealed this today. After being signed up as coach last season, Pandit asked the players what they intended to do with the prize money. Surprised, Vaidya asked Pandit what prize money was he referring to. “The one for the Ranji Trophy winners,” Pandit had replied.
“That was so confident of him... This man was already thinking of winning the trophy, so I thought Vidarbha is definitely going to have a good season,” Vaidya said today. “I started believing from the first day he came to Nagpur.”
Sacked by Mumbai
Today, seated beside Vaidya was Pandit, who has an enviable record as a coach in first-class cricket. The former India player has won the Ranji Trophy three times as a coach, out of the four times his teams have reached the final. The lone defeat, as Mumbai’s coach against Gujarat in the last season's final, was enough for Mumbai to sack him.
Mumbai's loss turned out to be Vidarbha's gain. Having been part of so many of Mumbai's triumphant campaigns, both as a player and coach, Pandit knew what it would take to win.
Big impact
“I have always been thinking about the achievement. Everybody wants to win the title, but I think this win will not only change the team, it will also have an impact on the youngsters,” the 56-year-old Pandit said. “Even age-group players can raise their hands and say that ‘I can win’. That's the kind of culture I would be happy to achieve in Vidarbha.”
A hard taskmaster, Pandit has his own way to operate and doesn't like interference in his job. “We have been following our routine and that's the best part we have done. All credit goes to the players as they have put in the hard work,” he said. “I am very happy with the way they have respected me, and the players have never ignored the system we have followed. That is one of the major things. The team is together, they have started enjoying the sessions.”
Pandit also praised the support staff for helping him through the season. — PTI
