Newly appointed Zimbabwe cricket coach Lalchand Rajput has vowed to make the Chevrons a strong team and take the Zimbabwe Cricket to the next level.
Speaking to Zimbabwe Cricket, the coach said he was not afraid of challenges and is not sceptical of transforming the cricket in Zimbabwe through the Chevrons.
After enjoying a glittering first-class career with Mumbai in the mid-1980s, averaging just below 50 as a right-handed opening batsman, Lalchand Rajput has since retiring as a player turned into a respected and successful international coach reputed for his passion, hard work and intimate knowledge of the game. He has been in charge of India, the India A and India Under-19 teams as well as the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. He has also transformed and led Afghanistan to Test status in his most recent success. His next challenge is to rebuild the Zimbabwe national side.
Rajput shows his delight at landing the coveted job as well as eager to face the challenges that lie ahead. He was the team’s interim head coach three months ago, before signing a contract as the substantive Chevrons head coach recently portraying his faith with the team.
“To be very honest, I had come on an interim basis as I wanted to first assess the team and its players. It was important for me to understand the players, assess their strengths and weaknesses and their attitude towards the game. The players are very hardworking and the team strives to improve their performance in every game. I think I have in the last three months seen that the players are keen to work hard. If they are keen to work hard, my job becomes easier. My experience as an international player and coach can really make a difference to this team”, he told Zimbabwe Cricket.
Rajput hopes to rebuild the Chevrons back to their old good days. “The biggest challenge is that I want to get the team where it was earlier because the team has fantastic players who have done really well. To have a full squad will be excellent. They will bring additional strength and confidence to the team. The likes of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine – their coming back means a great deal”, he said.
He believes he will add great input as a head coach. “As I said, as a head coach I always look to add value and make a substantive difference to the team. My aim is to build a stronger team and take Zimbabwe cricket to the next level and that is my biggest challenge”, he added.
As a new coach he will have a new style to the national side which will be hard work, team work, consistency, discipline and maintaining fitness levels would be my main focus areas and he understands the team will play positive cricket, play hard and play to win.
Rajput will banking on his experience to turn around the chevrons. “My vast coaching experience should come in handy. I have worked with multiple players and teams during my career as a coach. As a coach, your man management skills are very crucial. It is important to make the players feel comfortable and work with them. The team is like a family, each player has to complement each other and work towards winning each challenge. My focus will be to keep the team united and take Zimbabwe to the next level’, he added.
The coach revealed that he is not intimidated in his first assignments which are away games” As I said, I like challenges. South Africa and Bangladesh are among the toughest tours. But I think tough tours make you and the players even tougher. So with my experience I will make the players tough and to perform better in tough conditions. That is the biggest challenge and I think we can make a difference in that. I am very excited to get on the road with this team”, he elaborated.
Ho looks satisfied with the preparations for the tours so far. ” We have a two-month camp and one month is already gone and we have really worked hard on our fitness. We have also worked hard on our skills – batting, bowling and fielding skills. Then we had match simulation, match days on Sundays. So we have really worked on all aspects of the game because I want to make them really tough so that when they go on tough tours like that it becomes easier. The team has responded so well and that is so pleasing. The camp has helped us all. So I am putting all my efforts into preparing the players to perform better and become better cricketers” he divulged.
With Zimbabwe Cricket believing that he is the right man to take Zimbabwe forward, Rajput felt humbled and has faith that he will not disappoint. “I am really pleased that ZC has seen my potential and that gives me the most satisfaction and a lot of confidence to take this team to the next level, to work hard and make sure we make a difference in the coming years”, said elated Rajput.
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