A strict disciplinarian by his own admission, Chandrakant Pandit is immensely proud that his Vidarbha wards were able to make a seamless transition from handling pressure to putting the opposition under the pump, during their second successive Ranji Trophy triumph.
Unarguably the best domestic coach in the country, Pandit guided an unheralded Vidarbha side to a second successive Ranji title with a mix of strategic acumen and old school discipline.
Many observed that Vidarbha's maiden title triumph last year against Delhi was a 'fluke' and Pandit did admit that against Saurashtra, the aim was to prove that 2017-18 was not a mere flash in the pan.
Neither Pandit not captain Faiz Fazal elaborated on the process they followed but it was easy to guess that probably the focus was on getting the team united and it was imperative for everyone to pull in one direction, without thinking about individual results.
“Yes, there was pressure to maintain that reputation and we followed a process to maintain (performance). I won’t elaborate on the process but what we did was to work on inside cricket and cricket ethics.”Chandrakant Pandit, Coach - Vidarbha
Pandit said that he and his wards had a point to prove and answer the critics with a fitting performance.
“When this team walked out together, people made fun as if it was a school time but if Australia did the same, they said that is unity. This was a process and it was significant (in changing the mind set).”Chandrakant Pandit, Coach - Vidarbha
Pandit said he was given a free hand by the VCA and they knew all along about his strict methods. He said he had to sometimes keep even players, who were performing well, outside the playing XI to develop a healthy competition in the side.
“I could even slap Faiz (captain). There is a good rapport between the coach and the players. There are three types of players, one who are happy playing, and the ones how are just happy to be in team and those who were happy (to develop) a class of cricket. Mindset is just a word but a lot goes on. You have to understand the culture.”Chandrakant Pandit, Coach - Vidarbha
And the result is there for everyone to see as the side which even struggled to reach the knockout stages during earlier years, has now won back-to-back Ranji titles.
To put it in perspective, only five teams prior to Vidarbha have achieved the rare feat since the inception of the tournament back in 1934.
Captain Fazal also said that transformation of the side has taken time.
“We have followed strict discipline in the last two years. It’s a slow process to be honest. Everyone had to think in one direction. There was a lot of importance given to unity. From day one, there was just one thing in my mind, that we have to win trophy. Vidarbha was a ‘developing team’ but may be now we can say it’s developed.”Faiz Fazal, Captain - Vidarbha
Asked if there was extra pressure of delivering in front of their home crowd, Fazal said, indeed it was a thought at the back of their minds. As Fazal was answering, Pandit chipped in and lauded his players.
"To maintain the reputation is important. Handing the pressure shows the character of a side. And the way the players have played, when there was lot of uncertainty (twists and turns) in this match (is laudable)," Pandit said.
"The way Aditya (Sarwate) and (Akshay) Karnewar shows that this team can now put pressure on the opponents and not just handle the pressure well. The character if this side came to the fore in this final."
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