'When Rahul was Tired, Laxman Would Go': Jay Shah Expounds on Need For Strong Coaches on Bench For Team India

The grind never stops for the Indian Cricket Team, and Jay Shah knows it all too well.

Even the best of all could tire out soon, and that is exactly the reason why India has coaches on the bench.

“India plays non-stop cricket. We have good bench strength of coaches. When Rahul (Dravid) bhai was the coach and he wanted to rest, VVS Laxman would go as the coach,” stated Shah in an inerview with the Times of India.

One would assume that perhaps having different coaches across different formats may help take the load off those in charge. But, for Shah, the option lies in the hands of those the BCCI hire, and is not one that they deliberate over.

“It depends on the coach we have picked. Gautam Gambhir was interested in all three formats, then who am I to tell him that I am going to pick you for only this format,” Shah said.

“If you look at the makeup of the Test, T20 and ODI sides, 70 percent of the team is more or less the same…How will the players bond with different coaches?”

Shah also expounded on the reason for India receiving a bigger chunk of the pie that the ICC makes, stating the benefits that arise from the Indian squad’s tedious travel.

“India is the only team that travels everywhere. The benefit we get from that is that our relations with other boards gets stronger and the economy of the country improves because of India. That’s why we get 40% share (in revenues from the ICC), but in turn, the other countries too earn.”