'I am not eyeing any post'

After helping Kenya advance to the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this year, Sandeep Patil is back home and in charge of the India 'A' team that is set to tour England later this month.

The former Test batsman spoke to Faisal Shariff in Bangalore, where the India 'A' players are training.

This is another dream coming true. Three months back, when I finished with the Kenya Cricket Association on a very satisfying note, I made it clear that I would love to work with the Indian Board. I must thank the Board of Control for Cricket in India for reacting so quickly and appointing me as India 'A' coach.

When you retire from Test or first class cricket you like to contribute towards the game and this is what I had decided when I retired. I took up this job as coach-cum-captain and started working with Madhya Pradesh. Later, I carried on working with the India Under-19, India 'A' and then India teams. I would like to make it clear once again that it will be up to the BCCI to appoint me at any level. I have never said that I am only interested in working at a particular level. I am very happy and glad that I am working with a talented India 'A' side. I think the challenge is different.

There are solid expectations from this lot. The main thing is that I have to make sure that these guys are ready to take on the challenge at the international level. Luckily, out of 16 selected for the England tour, ninety per cent of players have already played for the Indian cricket team. It is also important to have John Wright alongside me, helping me in this concept. Because, ultimately the India 'A' side is some kind of a reserve force. If there are some last minute injuries to the national side, the captain and coaches always look to the 'A' side for immediate replacements and I would like to see these guys grab the opportunity.

Well, every side is different. Every country, place is different. The thinking level, the approach, the skills, basically everything is different. Cricket played in each country and state is different. Kenya was a wonderful experience and, like I said, I was really happy the way it finished. I only hope that I get a longer term to work with these youngsters.

I would say minimum two years. You need time to form a rapport; you need time to know inside and outside of a particular youngster. It is very important for a coach to have time on his hand.

I still maintain that it is a result-oriented game. It is a hire and fire kind of situation. India 'A' has seen five to six coaches; it shouldn't be surprising if they change another five in the next six months. But it is up to a particular coach and the BCCI to look at the performance of the team and the coach; his sincerity, the hard work, the planning that goes into it.

I am sure when this team returns from England the BCCI will look into all these possibilities to go ahead with me, or see if a change is needed. It is entirely up to the BCCI to appoint and to remove. If the 'A' side has seen six coaches, then, maybe, there was something which I don't want to go into detail and don't want to be part of.

I think every coach has his thinking style and working style; how to deal with the players, not only the on-field problems but also off-field. It will give you a better idea if you ask players about the change in approach or attitude, if there is any; whether they are happy with the coach or not. I have my style. It is difficult for me to say whether I have the same flair while I am coaching the youngsters. I have developed a style and so far it has worked. I hope it continues to work.

You were a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning side; have coached an international side [Kenya], the Indian national side and now the India 'A' side. Which cap suits you best?

Well, you have to change your cap. When you start playing cricket, of course, you are looking forward to wear your national cap. When you retire then you think about how you can give back to the game, which I am just trying to do. I consider myself very lucky to have played for my country; to have contributed little for my country in my playing days. Now, whatever I have experienced, if I can pass on that expertise and my experience to the younger generation, I think I will be very happy at the end of the day.

John and I started our careers together. It is not that he is a stranger to me. We have been talking over the last two years whenever we have met; whenever Kenya has played India. We have been talking about our problems, the coaches' problems. We have been uplifting and upgrading ourselves whenever we met. It's great to have John assisting me because ultimately it is very important to me what John thinks and in which area John is looking for a replacement. So, it's nice to have John and Madan Lal [as bowling coach] working with me in this particular camp.

I have made it clear: forget about the senior team. I am ready to work under anyone, be it also with the under-15 team. So, it is not that only the senior team is important. I am here to give my experience. I am not eyeing any post.