When Gary Kirsten Was Approached To Be Back As India Coach And Why MS Dhoni Is 'Irreplaceable'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) search for a successor to Duncan Fletcher was not confined to India alone. There were calls to a few accomplished foreign coaches as well and one of them was Gary Kirsten. The former India coach, the most successful one at that, has revealed that he had a few calls from India inquiring his interest in the job.

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"There have been one or two phone calls but I was not in a position to make those decision," Kirsten, who helmed Team India from 2008 to 2011, including its successful 2011 World Cup campaign, told Mirror.

While confirming that the approaches, Kirsten refused to go into details. "There were always calls going on. Even when I was here for the IPL there were always calls going on. I always think it as a privilege to be offered a job of international team, great honour. I am in India now to do some other works," Kirsten, who is in the city for the release of his wife's book, said.

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Kirsten obviously turned down the approaches but said he would never say never. "I am enjoying my life out of cricket. But you can never rule anything out in life. See what the situation is. I never say yes or never say no, it's difficult," the South African said.

'Would they do that to Sachin'

Kirsten had a highly successful association with MS Dhoni who is currently under pressure to retain his position as captain. Kirsten promptly came to Dhoni's defense. "The South African players will be happy if he wasn't there in the Indian team," Kirsten said ridiculing the calls to change the captain. "Who is going to replace him? Who replaces him in his batting position? Virat (Kohli) bats at 3. What is his (Dhoni's) one day average (52+)? Best in the world? I can't understand the thinking."

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He reiterated the point when specifically asked to elaborate if it is time for Dhoni to go. "Absolutely not. Why? Why. I don't understand people say that. We look at it from the outside, everyone is surprised when people say that. Why must he go?"

He continued. "I've always said that he is one of the greatest players to have ever played. He will be regarded as one of India's great players if not the greatest captain. His performances tell the story. You just have to look at his performances."

Kirsten also defended Dhoni's batting saying he is capable of finishing the games as well as hitting the big shots. "I saw some big shots this evening (in Indore). I saw some huge shots. Do the media do that to other players? Why would they run a player down like that? He is one of the greatest players India have ever had. Would they do that to Sachin (Tendulkar)? I think it's very unfair."

SA always plays well in India

Kirsten said he is not surprised by the performance of South Africa who have won the Twenty20 series and have done well so far in the ODIs. "SA always play well in India. So, it is not surprise for me that they are playing well. Most of the players are playing in the IPL. So they understand the conditions. They have got experience in the batting," he explained predicting that the Proteas could end up winning the Test series.

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"People tend to forget that South Africa haven't lost a Test series away from home in seven years. They know how to play away from home. They do really good preparation. They would have done their homework. What I love about Test cricket is as a Test-playing side you know you are worth your salt as a team when you can perform in all sorts of conditions. That is why I am not a fan of neutralising wickets. I think it's great to play on different conditions around the world because that's an exciting thing of Test cricket," he signed off.

Kirsten had a word on the current India coach Ravi Shastri and Test captain Kohli and much-debated aggression of the players. "I think everyone has got different coaching ways, leadership ways and philosophy. And you need to be true to your philosophy. So what works for one will not necessarily work for someone else. So if the team is performing with that leadership style then great. Then it's working."

(Originally published in Mumbai Mirror)