timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/bcci-awards-fast-bowling-contracts-to-akash-deep-vyshak-vijaykumar-umran-malik-yash-dayal-and-vidwath-kaverappa/articleshow/108090823.cms
In a first, BCCI hands out fast bowling contracts
NewsTheCricDude
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4mo
I love Dravid + Agarkar. I hope they continue till 2027
Such brilliant focus on the process. Such amazing work
Exactlyyyyy! Credit where it is due. Agarkar and Dravid are doing some wonderful things. They definitely have a big part in this.
Given Dravid’s track record with the process, this isn’t even a surprise. I mean he is so studious with his work. Introduced great rules for U19 and India A too. The shadow tours that India A now does before a test series acts as feeder for the series. It is completely Dravid’s brain child. ICT is lucky to have him handle the transition - he will get it done without even people realising.
And Agarkar - man he is so so clear with his thought process. And very hardworking. Always present in important matches, discusses all the steps with Dravid. Clear with communication of player choices
What else could you ask!?
Maybe a trophy - but then with such great process, it shouldn’t be very far away!
(Curse 19/11)
For once, they’ve appointed a selector who isn’t a dinosaur and is actually capable of planning ahead.
And an actual reputed player who people remember and can remotely tray to hold accountable and not one test players like msk prasad
it is tough to find those kind of people with how little they pay and also not allowed to coach in ipl. Agarkar is doing this for the love of india honestly and we have lucked out. But in all honesty, they need to pay more.
Is the pay for selectors too less, the pay for coach is pretty good, it seems
I believe all of it come in sets. Dravid and Agarkar have been vocally supportive of each other. So working together too. That’s genuinely good to see
Was a huge Agarkar fan during my early years of following cricket. There was a live cricket show sometime during my college days where we could dial the TV channel and talk to cricket experts on discussion. I remember calling them and saying "why is Agarkar sidelined, he goes for runs, but he gets regular wickets" something like that. I think it was Asia Cup or so. India was on a roll and the tv show was a day prior to the final or after semifinal, something like that. Everyone on the show and everyone calling them were enjoying the success. The first thing I asked the panel was "Sir who do you think will win the final". "Ofcourse India. What do you think" they said. I replied "I don't think India will win it." They were shocked "oh why so?". I said "our wins are coming from batters doing 270s 280s and 300s. It's not everyday they do it and the day they miss it, our bowlers get exposed" and then mentioned about Agarkar. It so happened that SL beat India in final later.
I was sceptical though when Agarkar became selector. I wasn't necessarily sure of him in this role. But he has surpassed my expectations. A few selections here and there, but that's okay I guess. We can't get 100 out of 100 right.
And right is subjective. I mean some selections can look wrong to us but if it follows the process, makes great sense. I think the process is very very accurate. The way they are using domestic to select for shadow tours and performances there get players in team. Plus the amount of consultation that Agarkar does with the Coach, everything seems very logical on paper. And that is amazing to see.
No vibes based selection at least
3 of the players are with RCB, who's writing this script
You're seeing them as RCB bowlers, not as INDIAN bowlers. Also, this is a shut up to those people who think RCB doesn't groom players.
New gen z kids thinks this is about ipl. Grow up bro India comes 1st
Move Dravid to a director role, not a coach stuck in the weeds maybe. And get a mental toughness coach for the senior team before and during tournaments.
That’s an amazing suggestion tbh. Not sure if BCCI is looking at such roles though.
Also currently the role of a coach seems more directorial. His team works on the technical aspects.
But yes, ask Dravid to take up a role where he can create a roadmap for the senior level. Has already done so well with the juniors and A team. His work with senior could do wonders for ICT. The signs are already there.
Also special mention to Agarkar. Dravid + Agarkar seem like a win already. Hope they continue though. And BCCI doesn’t start becoming reactionary. If needed post 2024, get a new coach for T20is.
Yep, Dravid to a director role and split coaches for white ball and red ball. Also ODI and T20 captaincy and selection need to be split and branched out.
Agree. For many players ODI and T20 gap is as huge as T20s and Tests. We need to start seeing 3 lines. Ofcourse there will be few overlaps. Few players can be good at Tests and T20s but not ODIs. Some can be good in white ball but not red ball, or vice versa.
From a team perspective, from the management level we need 3 lines of approach. I think few years down the line, what you are saying might happen. There will be someone at director level, while multiple coaches handle different formats and different age groups.
MI already created such a position and put Mahela there. The coaches of indivudual franchises report to him.
One issue that needs to be considered is how many coaches is too many. Too many cooks can spoil the broth. The director position should go more administrative level in that case than interfering too much with the teams. Once the new NCA facility is ready, I think we will see some changes in the structure. Things will get bigger and broader. Specializations will happen eventually. The world world is moving that way.
Technically, Dravid is already the director of cricket in India, Laxman the assistant director. You really think the transition that is happening or the captaincy changes that occurred are not at the direction of Dravid? He won’t let anything happen without his approval.
The being coach part is needed, because not many people are ready to become India’s full time coach.
Franchises pay more than enough for a shorter period of time so foreign coaches are not interested in dealing with the dynamics of Indian cricket circuit and stay away from home for 9 months for whatever BCCI will pay them.
I doubt people who are of a weaker stature than say Rohit, Kohli etc can wield the command and respect in the Indian dressing room.
So local Indian coaches are not going to cut it as the head coach of India.
Dravid should be the general manager of cricket. Reports directly to the BCCI
Should be the prime minister. Everybody reports to Dravid
Good that you told about mental toughness coach. We did have one, Paddy Upton who was recommended by head coach Gary Kristen and the duo helped India to win 2011 World Cup. Maybe that’s sometimes a team like India would need always given the constant attention and pressure on Indian team all the time.
Had him even for 2022 T20 cup. Dravid and Upton go way back. Very very good relationship. I don’t know why was he removed post 2022
Post 2011, he got busy. Lot of T20 contracts. Also T20 can be harsh sometimes. One season the team goes up, next season it can go down. We never know which one the bosses see.
Even if not Upton, BCCI can try someone in a similar role. Shayne O Connor for example, a former NZ cricketer. Instead of specializing in cricket coaching, he went lil broader. Did HR management. Then worked as life coach. Now working as professional coach, personal coach on various domains. He will suit the role you guys are talking. He can stay away from cricket technicalities, leave it to head coach, batting and bowling coaches, while he just manages players on a personal level.
I think BCCI and Dravid should interview Shayne and see if he can be of any help.
I hope Dravid continues, to start with. That can lead to a lot of such changes at the larger level. If his contract indeed expires post 2024 WC, that would be a step back for ICT
Backup's good. VVS if and when he comes, he's a top choice too. Saw an NCA assistant coach saying "he thought it might be the reverse with VVS and Dravid. Dravid might be the disciplinary guy asking staff to do things on time, but it seems he was liberal with the staff. VVS on the other hand is a perfectionist, all the plans to be put in action right on schedule." He spoke highly of both his experiences. VVS also is a tough guy on the coaching line, he's someone ready to make bold decisions. We might assume his style based on how he batted in his days, but he's not such a conservative guy on the coaching side. Am happy with hopes on the future too.
Hope that’s true. So far VVS hasn’t come across tactically very strong yet.
Dravid’s acumen with regards to cricketing decision is top notch
Oh ok. I see it the other way. I see VVS as an upgrade, when he joins.
Yuvi paaji maybe??
Very nice move by BCCI… our bowlers do need to be groomed and this kind of incentive should hopefully work
Another Win for BCCI.
Hail Agarkar and Dravid. Two top brains working on the process 🥳
Agarkar is a big upgrade over Chetan Sharma
The current duo at the top seem very good with the process
Rare BCCI W. Agarkar doing well
Yes. Agarkar also believes in process. So many new things already happening.
Him and Dravid are a win for ICT’s long term success. I hope they get to taste some fruits of this as well
BCCI piling on W after W at a breakneck pace. Thanks Ben Duckett!
Where is Arshdeep Singh? Is he already a contacted player?
Yes, he already has a contract.
Who is this imposter and what have you done with my thick headed BCCI?
Yes Umran has had poor outings for India but hes shown in IPl glimpses of his talent that 5fer he took was brilliant this kind of backing is perfect for him
Hopefully Harshit Rana Kartik Tyagi and express pacer Mayank Yadav join the list soon. These three are immensely talented. Himanshu Chauhan is wrecking havoc at domestic level with his height and Pace.
It's time India adopts Aussie style scouting. Pick Tall 140k+ pacers and groom them and discard trundlers
Is Rana injured or what? He didn't play this season Ranji. Tyagi needs work, lucky for him age is on his side. Mayank is a huge prospect for sure, atleast in white ball. He could have gotten few games last IPL, if not for injury. Early injuries, he should be cautious. Himanshu again going nice now. But he made his FC debut last month, I guess it's too early for such big contracts, but am sure he is noticed.
Harshit Rana got injured in SA during A series.. I suspect after Krishna's failure he probably would have played over Mukesh in Newlands but instead Avesh was drafted as a addition. Unlucky for him. Perhaps most deadly Hit the deck pacer in India rn. We will need someone like him in Australia.
Agree on Mayank. He is more suited to White ball as of now. He is far more accurate than Umran and nearly as quick as him.. Clocked 155+ in VHT. This could be his IPL. Boy is gonna get some hype.
Himanshu is new but great signs.
I am skeptical when it comes to Indian selectors on Pacers.
Everyone was shocked how come Mukesh played over someone like Akash deep? More than stats eye test matters. A bowler with 140k pace with seam movement and bounce with height would do better than a 125-130k trundler. Indian cricket is oblivious of this easy fact.
Yes looking forward to see Mayank and one more 150+ bowler in Avinash .. nice quick arm action in RCB.. hope they both shine this ipl
Avinash is not part of RCB this time I reckon.. Probably gone into the wilderness. He hasn't been involved in any domestic tourneys for JK too. Idk what's his current status.
Mayank Umran and Tyagi are fastest pacers in India right now.
What did you do to my boi Jay Shah 😭 I am legit convinced he got kidnapped and replaced with a dupe given the good decisions.
Instead of Umran, could have given it to Harshit Rana. I don't mind players like Umran and Tyagi getting it, but they should get it on performance, not coz of hype on social media.
Harshit Rana and another impressive Delhi quick this season, Himanshu Chauhan
not interested in mayank yadav?
Incredibly excited by him but he's injured right now. Was impressed with how Chauhan carried Delhi's bowling for a lot of the season on his back in his debut year.
how is ddca consistently producing so many pacers but none of them are making that next step to being amazing
simarjeet Singh, mayank yadav, harshit Rana, divij mehra, now himanshu Chauhan
Everyone there you mentioned apart from Simarjeet is basically a baby so there's no reason to expect them to have taken the next step yet, they've hardly played any cricket.
I do have high hopes for Mayank, Harshit, and Himanshu though. Divij Mehra looks too slow for me.
just saw the 2 5fers of himanshu and wow!
looked like he was rushing literally all of the batters
he was with GT as a net bowler apparently
Upvoted.
lol unnecessary downvotes for perfectly valid comment, but I think umran should be kept in the system too and also have harshit along with the current guys
I'm not sure about the "hype on social media" part.
Very evident, especially during IPL. Both from social media users and media guys on TV.
If these contracts were given on hype then Yash Dayal wouldn't have had one.
I didn't say all these contracts were given on hype.
Haha thank you, it's come up to minus 6 from minus 25 or something. 
Umran provides them with unique upside. If groomed, he could be an asset. Such contracts help in grooming players.
I guess they see more upside to Umran than Harshit.
Tyagi is missing, right?
Yes Tyagi is not there in this list. What I meant is instead of the hype on pace, let them prove in domestic tournaments before getting such contracts.
Umran seems to be heading in the same Trajectory as Varun Aaron.
Also Kartik Tyagi what a waste, I saw that piece about him on IPL few years ago coming from poverty playing for India U-19. A 20 year old bowling 145+
It seems like after he's got the money, he doesn't want to do anything. He just warms benches in the IPL and doesn't play domestic either.
picked the wrong Yash smh
yash dayal isn't bad. I'm not sure why the hate. yash thakur could also get a contract but he doesn't play much red ball
You would have liked Yash Thakur?
well he looked promising
Of course. He is very good. Suits white ball formats much more. Agree, I would have liked to see him as well. In fact I was angry on selectors for picking Mukesh over Yash in WI limited overs games.
Do it for spinners and more importantly, all rounders
Idea sponsored by RCB, it feels like haha