Premium
This is an archive article published on August 9, 2007

Will be friend more than coach: Rajput

Team India8217;s cricket manager for the Twenty20 World Cup, Lalchand Rajput, says his new role for MS Dhoni8217;s side is clear 8212; he will be a friend, more than a coach.

google-preferred-btn
.

Team India8217;s cricket manager for the Twenty20 World Cup, Lalchand Rajput, says his new role for MS Dhoni8217;s side is clear 8212; he will be a friend, more than a coach.

Impressed by the way his former Mumbai teammate Ravi Shastri pulled the team through the Bangladesh series after the World Cup disaster, Rajput told this newspaper: 8220;Players like Gautam Gambhir, Sreesanth, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan and Dinesh Kaarthick have played under me. I know their stre-ngths and weaknesses. I will be more like a friend to them than a coach.8221;

Rajput, currently in Colombo with the under-19 team, said that he was 8220;excited8221; at being 8220;recognised8221; by the Board, and added that Team India8217;s Twenty20 combination is 8220;perfectly balanced8221;.

8220;We have a perfectly balanced side with young and senior players. This is the best side we have, with quality players. We have big hitters like Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, some good bowlers and all-rounders,8221; said Rajput, who was coaching director with NCA.

Calling Dhoni one of 8220;the best players8221; he has seen, Rajput said: 8220;He is a clean hitter and has a cricketing brain. He has not played under me but we have interacted a lot. I8217;m there to help him and will try my best.8221;

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Live Blog
PHOTOS
In pics: From concept supercars to electronic SUV's: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was all about innovation
In Pics: From Concept Supercars to Electric SUVs – Innovation at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025
Top Stories
devendra fadnavis
‘Not acceptable’: Fadnavis orders immediate exit as BJP ties up with Congress, AIMIM
jammu protests
Medical Commission withdraws MBBS nod to Vaishno Devi college amid row over admission to Muslims
Elnaaz Nourouzi
Bollywood actor fled Iran, lived in refugee camp, stood in line for food; speaks 7 languages: 'I can program robots'
Vir Das is all praise for Aamir Khan's mindful professionalism on set.
'Aamir Khan uses half a vanity van, comes half hour early, takes care of his entourage,' says Vir Das
Pakistani women shararat dance Dhurandhar
Pakistani women groove to 'Dhurandhar' track 'Shararat' at wedding; internet reacts to viral video: ‘Obsession is real’
The situation escalated when the horse defecated several times on the store’s floor
Man rides a horse through Target store, it defecates all over: video viral on X
While the ICC hasn’t made any official comment on the issue, it is understood that they held an internal meeting on Tuesday and then conveyed their decision to Bangladesh (BCB)
Bangladesh leaves door open, might travel to India for T20 World Cup
India (IND U19) vs South Africa (SA U19) 3rd Youth ODI Live: Catch updates from the third match in Benoni today. (BCCI)
LIVE Cricket Score, India vs South Africa U19 3rd ODI
The current election campaign also brings out another facet of Maharashtra's current political picture.
No red lines, and a political free-for-all in Maharashtra civic polls
Maduro
What is the legal case against Maduro — and why has he claimed to be a ‘prisoner of war’?
Hina Khan air quality
Hina Khan expresses concern over Mumbai's deteriorating air quality, says 'can't even breathe'
Lego's new Smart Bricks will first appear in three all-in-one Star Wars sets, each with a varying number of pieces ranging from 473 to 962,
CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds
Advertisement
Must Read
Bangladesh leaves door open, might travel to India for T20 World Cup
While the ICC hasn’t made any official comment on the issue, it is understood that they held an internal meeting on Tuesday and then conveyed their decision to Bangladesh (BCB)
LIVE Cricket Score, India vs South Africa U19 3rd ODI
India (IND U19) vs South Africa (SA U19) 3rd Youth ODI Live: Catch updates from the third match in Benoni today. (BCCI)
The story of Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladeshi pacer caught in a political storm
Mustafizur Rahman barely wooed controversies, was the darling of volatile press folk of his country, so much so that they followed him to cover IPL games, and a poster boy back home. (AP Photo)
CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds
Lego's new Smart Bricks will first appear in three all-in-one Star Wars sets, each with a varying number of pieces ranging from 473 to 962,
I tried Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold at the world’s biggest tech show in Las Vegas, and here’s what it’s like to use
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold First Look: In hand, the Galaxy Z Tri Fold feels more like a futuristic hybrid than a conventional smartphone, blurring the line between phone, tablet, and PC. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)
Meta delays global rollout of Ray-Ban Display glasses, unveils new features at CES 2026
Meta Ray Ban Display 2
Hina Khan expresses concern over Mumbai's deteriorating air quality, says 'can't even breathe'
Hina Khan air quality
Advertisement
Buzzing Now
Pakistani women groove to 'Dhurandhar' track 'Shararat' at wedding; internet reacts to viral video: ‘Obsession is real’
Pakistani women shararat dance Dhurandhar
Man rides a horse through Target store, it defecates all over: video viral on X
The situation escalated when the horse defecated several times on the store’s floor
This 23-year-old Bengaluru entrepreneur is spending thousands to become the 'Bryan Johnson of India'
Bryan Johnson of India
After 10 daughters, Haryana woman delivers baby boy; sparks social media debate
The father, Sanjay Kumar, a 38-year-old daily wage labourer, said that he and some of his elder daughters had hoped for a son
Pune men trapped on balcony at 3 am call Blinkit delivery agent for help; video goes viral
Pune men trapped blinkit rider rescue
Jan 07: Latest News
Advertisement