Sandeep Dahad’s experience with international cricket legends in Masters Champions League
To watch the cricketing legends on television is a common thing but to get the opportunity to coach them is something extraordinary. Sandeep Dahad a former Mumbai left arm Pacer grabbed the opportunity when he was presented with a bowling coach assignment for one of the teams of MCL – Leo Lions. MCL is a star studded T20 cricket tournament played by retired cricketers. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Bret Lee ,Grame Smith ,Saqlen Mushtaq ,Murlitharan , Brian Lara, Darren Gough just to name a few have been a part of MCL.
While interacting with cricketgraph.com, Dahad expressed that it was a fantastic experience to be offered a job to coach cricketing greats like Brian Lara Harshell Gibbs and Darren Gough, were in the team, whom Dahad coached. “Though these players have retired, they still look to play with the same intent and intensity as if they were playing for their country”, added Sandeep. Mr.Dahad, who is also one of the coaches of MCA- IDBI FL pace academy and a former Tripura ,Goa state team coach, was completely floored by the modesty and simplicity of the cricketing legends. During the tournament, these great players were totally involved while making decisions, studying the opponents’ batting line-up, bowling attack and understanding every player’s game.
The former captain of the island country West Indies; Brian Charles Lara was the skipper of Sandeep’s team(Leo Lions). “Though the southpaw was not in best of the forms, he did not let this affect his captaincy”, averred Mr. Dahad. Lara led with supreme confidence, which is evident from the fact that his team reached the finals of MCL.
The coach reminisced,” The final match was played on a wicket that was on a slower side making it difficult to chase. Everybody in the team expected that Lara would elect to bat first if he wins the toss. To everybody’s surprise, Brian’s brain had some other plans. He won the toss and chose to field first. Many eyebrows were raised and without any further ado, Lara justified his decision. He said that his team’s bowling had bowled most no. Of dot balls and given least number of boundaries in the tournament so team was far superior to batting that is why he did not want to put his bowlers under pressure again, because somewhere he knew that the team’s batting had not clicked”. In the final match, bowling worked according to the plan and Lara’s team was able to restrict the opponents for a humble 129. However a few injuries and a brilliant bowling spell from Rana did not allow Brian’s team to clinch the MCL Cup.
Sandeep Dahad has achieved a lot in the field of cricket. He has been one of the best Level-C BCCI qualified coaches with specializations in Fast bowling ,Batting and Fielding. The Former Bowling all rounder was also India’s Youngest Ranji Coach Guiding his State Team – Tripura to their historic Semi-Final appearance in Plate group Ranji Trophy which is evident from the fact that he was associated with MCL, where the retired international cricketers came together to play the game. Despite rubbing shoulders with the cricketing legends and sharing dressing room with them, Mr.Dahad is still amazingly passionate about coaching and as humble , grounded as anybody else. We at cricketgraph.com wish this great personality all the very best for all his future endeavors.
