Cricket News

‘India need someone who understands the concept of T20I’- Harbhajan Singh calls for a new head coach in T2OIs

India last won a 20-20 World Cup title in 2007.

Feb 26, 2023 5:30 pm

Harbhajan Singh has put out a big statement in the open saying that India should have different coaches in T20Is and for Tests and ODIs. Currently, Rahul Dravid is the coach of the Indian team across all formats. Harbhajan also talked about who could be a potential T20I coach for India.

India have not done well in T20Is since winning the inaugural World Cup in 2007 in South Africa. They crashed out of the semi-finals in 2022 when the event was held in Australia. The Men in Blue suffered a 10-wicket loss at the hands of England at Adelaide which brought the curtains down in what was a good campaign in Australia.

Rohit Sharma leads India in all formats, at present. Hardik Pandya has led the side in a few T20I series as well.

‘India need someone who understands the concept of T20I cricket’ – Harbhajan Singh

“Yes, you have two captains, so you can have two coaches. Why not? Someone whose planning is different. Like England has done with Brendon McCullum. Someone like Virender Sehwag or Ashish Nehra who worked with Gujarat Titans and Hardik Pandya won his first tournament as captain. So, bring someone who understands the concept of T20 and demands of the game.” Harbhajan said on Sportskeeda.

“The coach knows that focus is on T20 cricket. Say if Ashish Nehra is the T20 coach, then he knows that his job is to make the Indian team champions in the T20 format, and Rahul Dravid knows he has to work on how the Indian team can be No.1 in Tests and ODIs.” England have introduced the split-coaching role recently with Brendon McCullum in charge of the Test side and Mathew Mott in charge of the ODI and T20I side.

Mott had taken England to a victory in the 20-20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, which was their second 20-20 World Cup title after 2010. Under McCullum, England have rebranded their Test Cricket with Bazball and have won 10 out of their last 11 Tests, which included a 3-0 Test series whitewash against Pakistan.