MUMBAI: For someone who now has the best credentials as a cricket team's coach, Gary Kirsten perhaps couldn't have asked for more in a span of three years.
So on Tuesday, a year and three days after his two-year contract's extension, Kirsten, still soaking in the Indian team's huge high of lifting the World Cup, chose to bid adieu calling it "one of the hardest goodbyes" he's ever had to say.
The soft-spoken and shy former South African opener, who before taking up the job had no previous experience as a coach, heaped tons of praise on the Indian team and its captain MS Dhoni as he spoke to mediapersons at the Cricket Centre of BCCI.
Reading from a statement, Kirsten said, "Tonight, I leave with my wife to return to South Africa. It's been a remarkable journey over the last three years with Team India. This has been one of the most cherished experiences of my life. We set our goals as a team way back in October 2008 - we wanted to become the No.1 ranked Test team in the world and win the World Cup. We have achieved both of those goals and the players of both the Test team and the World Cup squad can be extremely proud of this magnificent achievement."
He specially thanked Sachin Tendulkar, whom he called as the greatest sporting model he had ever met. "To Sachin, I want to say thank you for your friendship. You are the greatest sporting role model I have ever met. Your humility, your work ethics and your pure love for the game of cricket has been a pleasure to watch," Kirsten read out.
The coach was also not short on words while speaking about Dhoni. "In him India has one of its great leaders. A calm and level-headed person, I have never seen him lose temper. He is a 100 per cent man who leads by example and believes in taking responsibility on his own shoulders and feels the most when a team loses," he said.
The 43-year-old, who played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for South Africa, was profusely requested by some Indian team players to stay back but Kirsten politely refused all through. Asked about his future role, he said, "At the moment, I've signed nothing. I was offered a few IPL offers but I've turned them all down for the specific reason that I wanted to have some time off after this Indian sojourn with my family which I have missed tremendously.
It has been a great Indian ride for the ever-smiling Kirsten. "It was interesting to come into this job with no coaching background but I used my experience as a player as a reference point to work with the team. I tried building the environment of trust. Me and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning coach) tried to make sure that the players knew that we were here to make it the best team in the world and not for personal glory," he explained.
Leaving on a high, Kirsten knows that it will be difficult for the new person coming in. "It's going to be tough but I feel there is no reason why this team should not continue to succeed. The new coach should bring fresh ideas but do it in a way wherein the Indian players are going to respond," Kirsten said.
Looking at the road ahead, Kirsten wished India became No. 1 in ODIs too. "They have two big tours of England and Australia, and also the West Indies. England, having won the Ashes, are going to be a big challenge. India should look to retain their No. 1 Test status before they get down to Australia. There are some really nice milestones set to reach. There is the No. 1 position in ODIs to look ahead for as well," he said, flashing that trademark smile.
GURU GARY ON SOME OF HIS INDIA WARDS
YUVRAJ SINGH:
He's had a tough run. After being left out of the Test side some months ago he made some personal decisions. I got a sense that he was moving into a new space. I couldn't believe when we came back for the World Cup about how focused he was. He was much fitter and worked hard on his bowling and fielding. For him to finish as the man of the tournament is a brilliant effort. I am proud of him.
ZAHEER KHAN:
No. 1 and premier bowler but needs support from the other end. He is the best 135k bowler in the world at the moment. Has tremendous skills with the ball and has proved himself time and time again that he can deliver. Doesn't like being called medium or medium-fast bowler. Performs very well under pressure and is an unbelieveable bowler particularly to left-handers.
SURESH RAINA:
A more senior pro now. He is exceptional.
SREESANTH:
Paddy Upton (mental conditioning coach) spent a lot of time with him. He's a highly skilled individual and has the ability to get the best batsman in the world out. But he needs to work on his consistency. He's played seven Test matches in a row for us and was the key to our bowling. That could be a real base for him to get going again. It will be a wasted talent and a wasted opportunity if he doesn't go on to the next level.
VIRAT KOHLI:
He is ready to play Test cricket. Is a bright young star. He's taken on the responsibility of playing the big games for India.
ISHANT SHARMA:
Has got tremendous potential. He's had a tough year but is young and is sure to learn a lot more about his cricket over the next few years. He can be a star of the future as well.
MUNAF PATEL:
Really impressed by the way he's performed over the last year. He's really come back and performed exceedingly well.
ASHISH NEHRA:
Has done a good job over many years. Has been the mainstay of the bowling attack in the World Cup.
CHETESHWAR PUJARA:
Another very exciting Test prospect. Surely, a star for the future.
PRAGYAN OJHA:
Has done well as a left-arm spinner. But he has a long way to go and learn what he needs to do to get better.
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