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The Rediff Cricket Interview / Ashok Mankad

"Bombay is the best team in the world!"

It is never easy being the son of a cricketing legend -- especially when you try to make a name in the same game your father graced before you.

Ask Ashok Mulvantrai Mankad, son of Mulvantrai Himatial 'Vinoo' Mankad. In his own right, Ashok was a decent right hand batsman, with a good range of strokes and a sound temperament, allied to a cheerful disposition. But weigh him against the achievements of father Vinoo -- a larger than life cricketer who, time and again, put his imprimatur on cricket matches with both bat and ball -- and Ashok's own achievements fade into insignificance.

In his own way -- as player, as administrator, as national coach, a job he held for precisely ten days -- Ashok has done his bit for the game. And now his cricketing involvement gains another dimension, as he takes over from Balwinder Singh Sandhu as Mumbai's coach.

As assignments go, this could be next only to being coach of the national team, simply because, despite the emergence of talent in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and even, of late, such centres as Uttar Pradesh, expectation still weighs heavy on the Mumbai team, and it is Mankad's job to deliver on those expectations.

How does he expect to fulfill his brief? These, and other questions, came up in a conversation Faisal Shariff had with the man of the moment. Excerpts:

How does it feel, to be coaching the team you once played for, then led?

It is the greatest honor conferred upon me since the time I earned my first India cap. I have been associated with the Bombay team for 35 years now, and these years have been very productive for me. I have been lucky to represent the best side in the country -- for that matter, I would go to the extent of calling it the best side in the world.

Bombay has given me so much, and now, by naming me the coach, it has given me even more. I have got more than I deserved, and I say this simply because the obligation of an institution can never be repaid. I think this is my chance to give back to Bombay what it has given me over the years. I think it is a greater honor to be coach of the Bombay team then to be the coach of the Indian team.

Isn't 'best side in the world' a bit of an exaggeration?

Bombay has produced the best players, the most number of players for the national squad, it has the greatest record in domestic matches, 29 Ranji victories.

It is a pity that we are restricted to the domestic level, otherwise you would see the side do brilliantly well. You should remember the way we beat a full strength Australian team very recently.

Bombay has a class, a history, a culture. To be a Bombay player is a great honor. It is the closest thing to getting the India cap, and no other team in India can say that.

How do you propose to go abou training the team?

The first thing I have to drill into the team is that they are already at a level no other team can be at, the fact that they have made it to the Bombay squad is proof enough that they are good. I can't teach them technical aspects. That is very detrimental for the player, whenever you try to change the style or technique of a batsman you often mess up more for him than you could help. All you try to do is try to find options for him to improve upon his game.

I will only be working on the metaphysics, on the periphery. My focus will be on instilling in them that killer instinct they seem to lack, that awareness of their own strength. Once they are aware of this, they will be a different side altogether.

This for instance is the real strength of Sachin Tendulkar -- he is confident, aware of his incredible talent and alert to the situation.

What of team selection? How much of a say will you have in that aspect?

We have a great panel of selectors, who have been great players themselves. They have an open mind, and are ready for new ideas. We will respect their policy. After all, for a coach and captain, selection is a need, for the selectors it is vision. An eye on the future. I have a very simple principle to follow: we will be working to understand what the selectors want, before we make ourselves understood.

How well do you know the players you are going to be in charge of?

Well, I must admit honestly that I don't know the players very well. My job starts from the 15th of September. I will endeavour to meet the players and befriend them. Due to the age difference, I know they will have a problem, but I will make the first move and talk to the boys, take them into my confidence. I'll tell them that they are better players than I was, so I am not there to teach you, that coaching is about sharing, bout discussing, about planning.

This is the reason why I have requested the board to give me a three-year term, and to let me work in an environment conducive to forging a team for the future. I believe in keeping options open, not dictating terms, but rather building an environment where everyone nutures his talents and eventually the outcome is positive.

Winning for me is never a destination, but merely a trail that shows the way. This is something the likes of my father, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar understand very well, which is what made them what they are.

Tell us about your experiences with your father?

Our father left us very early, when we were in our early twenties. So I spent very little time with him, because during his playing days he was busy travelling. But I can tell you that he was a self-confident man. Though he was not well educated, he yet managed to carve a niche for himself.

He had a radiance of talent in him, which he respected. He worked very hard and could proudly proclaim that he was self-made.

We were born with a silver spoon in the mouth, but he didn't have any of the luxuries during his playing days that we had, not even decent cricket gear. Yet the man had awe-inspiring self-esteem, and he considered himself to be the best. Once you get into that frame of mind, the rest is just details.

And your greatest influence?

Without doubt, my father. The man had a charisma about him that humbled you. I remember as a child, I would be awestruck when he was home. The way he spoke, the way he moved, there was an artistry, a power about him that was just awesome.

I remember when he was my coach, we used to go to Hindu Gymkhana for practice. He left the house at 6.35 am, exactly. He never woke us up, he wanted us to learn, on our own, the importance of punctuality. If we were late for practice, he would make us run endless laps of the ground. Eknath Solkar and I were the major casualties of this practice.

And what are your other interests, these days?

Well, I have developed a liking for golf and I don't think I am so bad. I have a healthy handicap of 10, and am looking to improve on that.