With his radical, even strange methods, Buchanan could never really relate to KKR
With his radical, even strange methods, Buchanan could never really relate to KKR
Having a foreign coach does not guarantee success to an essentially Indian outfit. John Buchanan ending his association with Kolkata Knight Riders is yet another example of this. Thanks to his radical strategies, Buchanan became a household name in Indian cricket before, during and after the second edition of the Indian Premier League.
Wonder whether a losing team has attracted so much publicity in the rich history of the willow game. Anyway, Buchanan is history now and by releasing him from his three-year contract, KKR can start its rebuilding process on new ground. Shah Rukh Khan is quite used to doing re-takes so it shouldn't be hard.
Some Indian names are been thrown around and therein lies the solution. Probably! If KKR appoints an Indian coach, it will be a unique decision since all teams were guided by foreigners in the last edition of the Indian Premier League. Remember, being unique in other ways caused KKR a load of ridicule u2013 an assistant to Buchanan, a bowling coach a wicket-keeping coach etc. Yet, KKR shouldn't shy away from being different.
The Buchanan reign has left a sour taste. "I have never seen a team so confused," said a KKR senior player during the IPL last month.
ConfusionYesterday, another player expressed a similar sentiment and elaborated: "Buchanan created a lot of confusion with theories like the one on four captains. He should have known that he couldn't control the team from the outside.
"He experimented too much and didn't show confidence in his players. For example, he took Shoaib Shaikh and did not play him even in one match and sent Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar back after just one match.
Laxmi Ratan Shukla got three wickets in one match and after that, he didn't get a bowl."
Obviously, it's surprising that Buchanan could achieve very little with KKR despite being a highly successful coach for Australia (1999 to 2007).
"He coached Australia in an era when they were an unbeatable side," argued a KKR player. "Just look at the quality of the players he had. If he would've done something with this team then he would have proved himself.
A coach is as good as his team. There is no magic formula of getting anyone and results will be guaranteed."
Hire and fire worldEngland don't seemed to have been affected by KKR's performance and have roped him in to help them regain the Ashes. But that is not likely to act as perfect soothing balm for a man who will be viewed as a sacked coach however smooth yesterday's press release may sound.
Former India player Sandeep Patil should know. "It's a hire and fire world. You are hired to produce results and if you don't, you are sacked. I know what it feels like. I was told to take a break as coach of Mumbai Champs (in the ICL) and I was also replaced as coach of the Indian team in 1996," Patil told MiD DAY yesterday.
The former dasher recalled: "I got a letter signed by BCCI secretary J Y Lele that I could not motivate the Indian team when actually there were other reasons for my removal which I won't get into right now. I have always maintained that those who appoint you have every right to fire you."
