World Cup title would be riches aplenty for Rohit's boyhood coach Dinesh Lad

Rohit Sharmas boyhood cricket coach says he will be the richest person in the world if the India captain lifts the ICC World Cup 2023 despite never charging for a training sessionDinesh Lad a former railway worker and cricketer has helped mould dozens of players during a 30year coaching career including Rohit and India teammate Shardul ThakurLad has done this mainly while operating as the coach at the Swami Vivekanand International School in Borivali a northwestern suburb of Mumbai far removed from the citys famous cricket nurseries such as the Oval Maidan or Shivaji Park But whether they have gone on to international honours or not all of his charges have had one thing in commonI never took money from anybody for cricket I never took money from any parent Lad told AFP during an interview at the school on SundayRohit 36 is set to lead India in a World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday with Lad saying Im the happiest person in the world And if I saw the World Cup trophy in his hands then I must be the richest person in the worldRohit averaging nearly 56 at the World Cup is the only man to have scored three doublecenturies in oneday internationals But it was his bowling that captured Lads attention when he first saw the 12yearold playing against his school team during a summer camp in May 1999They were just 10over games They Rohits side scored about 67 in 10 overs and we chased that down in seven or eight overs But in that time I saw Rohits offspin not batting the way he bowledin just two overs he only conceded five or six runs and took one wicket said LadAlso ReadThe unbeatables underdogs and everything in betweenImmediately impressed Lad wanted to bring Rohit then living with his uncle into the school team and arranged a meeting with the director headmaster I told him your nephew is very good at cricket But there was a problem His uncle asked me about the fees which were 275 rupees 330 per month Immediately he said we cannot afford that So I went to the director and said to him Sir the boy is very poor but hes very talented please give him a freeship the equivalent of a scholarship And then Rohit came to this schoolBut it wasnt until a few years later Lad realised he had a batsman on his hands One day I saw a boy at the gate before training just playing with a straight bat said Lad So I thought who is this and then I saw it was RohitLad wasted little time in promoting Rohit to his now familiar position of opener In that particular match he scored 140 After that there was no stopping him He was a natural batsman I didnt have to teach him anythingLad said that what also stood out about the young Rohit was his will to win We were chasing 240 to win and were 304 I sent him a message you have to keep batting or we are out of the tournament So he sends a reply via the 12th man Tell Sir dont worry we are going to win the match Hes a very confident boy Having been persuaded to start coaching by a friend in 1993 Lad reckons he has guided 90 players into various strands of Mumbai youth cricket and the senior Ranji Trophy team That list includes his son Siddhesh now a batsman with Goa while Shardul refers to Lad as a second parentSundays session saw 22yearold batsman Suved Parkar who scored 252 on his firstclass debut for Mumbai last year back where it all began As a young cricketer Lad came under the influence of the late Ramakant Achrekar the mentor of India great Sachin Tendulkar and he too has received the Dronacharya Award a national honour for sports coachingBut with his reputation now worldwide a video tribute from former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini whose son Thando was coached by Lad is an equally prized possession Ntini having thanked Lad for improving the batting and bowling of Thando himself now a paceman in South African domestic cricket adds Its been an absolute honour to see the love you are giving my son You are not doing it for the sake of being a coach you are doing it for the love of the gameWith agency inputs