SAS NAGAR, OCT 12: It was the day Kapil let loose his devils on the Indian team. The first day's play had ended and there was gloom all around as dusk descended. Kapil Dev, the new coach, was livid. It wasn't a pep talk that he had in mind. He lashed out at the horrendous first-innings batting performance and gave the players the ``dressing down of their lives'', right in front of the selectors. Even the stars weren't spared.The next morning came the stern message that the bowlers must ``do the job'' within a time-frame. No wonder, the Haryana hurricane didn't strike again that evening.Was the man with the Midas touch trying to take control of the team right from day one? Was he trying to impose stern discipline on a team that is used to the generally lax ways of a coach? His tongue-lashing may have had a chastening effect on superstars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly.There may be many who may dislike Kapil's ways - perhaps, more outsiders than the players themselves - butthe former Indian captain is definitely trying to instill a sense of discipline in the team and sending a signal to those running the game in this country that he would brook no interference in the team's day-to-day affairs.The dressing room has been declared out of bounds for everyone - he is reluctant to let even the selectors walk in when the game is on. Players will no longer be chased by journalists and photographers and the hotel lobby will not overflow with onlookers. The players will have only one job on hand: focus attention on cricket.That was Kapil's agenda when he joined the team. He is trying to do what none of the previous Indian coaches did. Bishan Singh Bedi did make an attempt but those were early days for a cricket manager in India and he lost his job. The rest have simply been led by, in a manner of speaking.But Kapil is by far the most towering personality to be at the helm so far, and because of his stature he commands respect from the players. ``I will be like a big brother tothem. I will guide and help them. I want them to enjoy the game so that they can give their best,'' he had said on the day he took charge of the team.Kapil could have waited a few days before cracking the whip but the disastrous performance on the first day probably forced him to be stern earlier than expected.He is, however, not all fire and brimstone. He is working on man management too. He has been talking to players, telling them about his and the country's expectations and how they need to work hard to fulfill them. He is prepared to make some allowances - no bar on moving out till a certain time and allowing wives to be with the team. But on the field, he expects total commitment to the game.It is too premature to say whether his methods will work or not but there is no doubt that Kapil is aware that his job is not easy, and to achieve his goal, he is willing to confront the establishment.
