Who will replace Le Roux?

A lot of credit for India8217;s recent success, topped by the final finish at the World Cup, went to their South African trainer Adrian le ...

A lot of credit for India8217;s recent success, topped by the final finish at the World Cup, went to their South African trainer Adrian le Roux, who turned a bunch of fragile-bodied injury-prone players into a mean and fit unit.

His sudden departure, therefore, has created a crisis of sorts within the BCCI. The question therefore, discusses the crisis-management plans: Who will replace le Roux in order to continue the good work?

With the BCCI top brass in London for the ICC meeting, the issue has been put on the backburner for the time being, but the Board8217;s headhunters 8211; coach John Wright, physio Anrdew Leipus and le Roux himself 8211; are busy scouting to fill the vacancy. Voices within the BCCI have suggested that the trainer will be a foreigner, and going by their experience, they have insisted that he preferably be a South African.

Taking stock of the top physical trainers in South Africa, the names that come up are: Andrew Gray the man who le Roux replaced in the South African national team; Rob Walters the trainer of South Africa8217;s National Cricket Academy and Jeff Lunsky Gauteng Province8217;s trainer, who had once caught Rahul Dravid8217;s eye.

Another name doing the rounds is that of recently-recruited South African trainer of the East Bengal football club, Kevin Jackson. But there seem to be a number of hurdles in Jackson8217;s move from the maidans of Kolkata to the Eden Gardens, since he has signed a six-month contract with the club.

East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmik seemed in no mood to part with his trainer. 8216;8216;There is no way we will part with our trainer as we have signed a six-month contract with him,8217;8217; he said.

The ideal candidate for the Indian job could be Gray, considering his international experience. After his explosive pre-World Cup report 8211; in which he blamed the South African players of drinking, partying and overeating 8211; was made public a few months back, Gary was not the most popular man around in the team. After the tri-series in Bangladesh he quit and le Roux got the SA job. A tough task master and strict disciplinarian, he would certainly fit in with Dalmiya8217;s way of thinking.

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Walters too could be among the front-runners for the job. But when The Indian Express contacted him, Walters said that he has not been contacted so far, but was quick to add, 8216;8216;I am certainly ready for talks if an offer is made.8217;8217;

The outside chance is the Highveld Strikers Gauteng Province trainer Lunsky. Called South Africa8217;s fitness guru, he is a qualified ophthalmologist. He is also the coach of South Africa8217;s national squash squad. Lunsky too showed his eagerness for the Indian assignment and added, 8216;8216;When Dravid was in South Africa to treat his injury, he has asked me if I was keen to join the National Cricket Academy at Bangalore. Things didn8217;t take shape but I would be keen to take this international assignment.8217;8217;

The wild card in the race is former Sri Lankan trainer Alex Kontouri. The Sri Lankan Board was so impressed by his work that they named the state of art gymnasium at Colombo after him. But they parted ways on a sour note and this left Kontouri so disillusioned that went to Australia to start his own business.

But maybe the offer from seasoned hard-bargainer Dalmiya will be too tantalising to refuse.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More