For the previous decade, coach Lalchand Rajput has taken on the duty of serving to less-fancied groups climb the ladder in worldwide cricket. In 2016 and 2017, he oversaw Afghanistan’s progress simply as it obtained full-member standing. He additionally coached Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2022 earlier than accepting his present project with the United Arab Emirates.
But all of it started for Rajput on the highest stage as supervisor of the Indian group that gained the inaugural World T20 in 2007. When the UAE faces India within the Asia Cup on Wednesday, the 63-year-old shall be up against his dwelling nation for the primary time.
“India is my country. That feeling is obviously there,” Rajput gushed in a chat with The Hindu. “But this is a challenge for me. I have been coaching different countries and trying to take them to the next level. With Afghanistan, we got Test status. The UAE has qualified for the Asia Cup after 17 years. The main thing for us now is to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.”
Rajput’s stint with India in 2007-08 was just the start of the T20 wave. “Back then, there wasn’t much data analysis. But now, 18 years later, there is just so much information available on match-ups, strengths, power-hitting areas. T20 has become very technical,” he acknowledged.
What is his recommendation to the UAE gamers forward of the India conflict? “I am on both sides,” he laughed.
“I have just told them to enjoy the moment. Don’t get overawed by the presence of the Indian players”.
