I've a lot to offer as coach, says Sandeep Patil after applying for post

Sandeep Patil

Chairman of national selectors Sandeep Patil has stressed that his decision to apply for the head coach's post of the Indian cricket team was made of his own will and there was no prompting from any quarters.

Sandeep Patil

PTI reported on Saturday that there was speculation over Patil being advised by some high-ranking Board officials to apply since his selectorial term ends this September. Patil denied this emphatically: "I am passionate about coaching. When I retired from cricket, I coached Madhya Pradesh, India under-19, India ‘A' and then India. I also had stints with Kenya and Oman which were very satisfying. I have something more to offer in terms of coaching. I have always felt my coaching career was half done and what better than to do it for my country.

"This is the first time I am applying for a coaching position. In all my previous roles, I was approached. I am doing this only because I have the desire and of course, a 21-year experience which involves being director of the National Cricket Academy and four years as chief selector," Patil told mid-day on Saturday.

Patil coached India teams under Mohammed Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar in 1996, but was replaced by S Madan Lal in six months.