Patil looking forward to share the table with Wright

Matheran, a hill station, 90 kilometres from Mumbai is the favourite haunt of former Indian cricketer, Sandeep Patil. So much so that when s...

Matheran, a hill station, 90 kilometres from Mumbai is the favourite haunt of former Indian cricketer, Sandeep Patil. So much so that when somebody asked Patil, where he was headed for, after leading Kenya to the semifinals of the World Cup, as their coach, his reply was: Matheran. This is the place where Patil says, he can relax and indulge in his hobbies. 8216;8216;I like the surroundings, the wilderness. I have made it a point to make it to the place after every foreign tour. There is nobody to bother you. I do a lot of walking, ride horses, play gully cricket with the horse handlers and I even dance,8217;8217; said the 47-year-old former international.

Patil was relaxing with his family at Matheran8217;s Brightland Hotel when the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI offered him the job of coaching the India 8216;A8217; team which will be touring England next month.

Patil, who has coached the Indian Under-19, 8216;A8217; and senior teams in the past, had to immediately return to his Shivaji Park residence in Mumbai on Sunday. There, Patil spoke to Jaideep Marar on the challenges and expectations that awaits the new job. Excerpts:

nbsp;

Patil8217;s graph as coach

nbsp;

1996: Cricket Manager of the Indian team for England Series; Singer Trophy in Singapore; Pepsi Cup in Sharjah; Singer World Series Cup in Sri Lanka; Sahara Cup in Canada. Was assistant to 8216;Cricket Manager8217;, Ajit Wadekar during India8217;s 1996 World Cup campaign.

1994-95: Cricket Manager of the India A team for SAARC tournament in Bangladesh; Kenya tour

1994-95: Cricket Manager of India under-19 team for tour to England and Australia.

1999-2003: Coach of Kenyan team

His initial reaction: It was a pleasant surprise. I am a little tense.

Story continues below this ad

On whether he expected a call so soon: No. I was in touch with Jagmohan Dalmiya the BCCI president and had conveyed my intentions to work with them. But the decision was always going to be theirs. I would have been happy even if I had been give the charge of an under-19 team.

I did not have an ego that I would only accept the job of the senior team coach. The Board has adopted the right approach. Besides, John Wright has been doing a wonderful job with the senior team.

On the challenge: Every assignment is a new challenge. I do not believe in past glory. My term with Kenya is a thing of the past. I have to take fresh guard now.

On his plans for the new job: From what I gather from the newspapers, it is nice to know that John will also be involved during the 18-day training camp at Bangalore. It is very important that we interact and work hand in hand. I do not want to start something different. The first week will go in knowing about the players, their working style etc. Expectations are high and I am looking forward to it.

Story continues below this ad

Concept of the 8216;A8217; team: It is a good concept. It keeps those players, who are on the doorstep of making it to the national team, on guard. Their form is analysed and they get an opportunity to display their talent by being in touch with encounters which are quite similar to international cricket.