ANSHUMAN GAEKWAD

We caught up with 'Anshu' at MRF Pace Foundation, during the Chennai Camp of Indian probables for the ICC Knock-out Tournament.

This is the first time I have seen the boys coming into camp so fit. I have been making sure that they feel at home and don't feel uncomfortable and also that they are in good spirits. Even when it was raining the other day, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves playing water polo. Whatever they do, they have been enjoying themselves, as you can hear the noise and laughter and that's a very good sign.

Most of the boys know me from my previous assignment and that is the reason why I have accepted the assignment in the first place. I mean this assignment is very short; just for two tours, till the end of October.

Well in the past two years that I was there I have been strict on some conditions and I don't care who it is, I mean it could be the captain who is late and left behind, it could be the senior most player or the junior most. If they are late, they are left behind. You see it is just a practice session but the players are all in whites. And if there is an occasion where formal wear is required I insist on it. When it comes to discipline, it is the same for all, whether it is the dress code or timings and I believe in that and it does make a difference.

I don't think that is correct. We have been discussing. In fact, we have team meetings, individual and group meetings where we discuss these things as to who we should bowl, how, what sort of field we should have and how we should approach the game. I mean, this is part of the game now and when we were playing, it was not there. Now it is all videos and laptops and so there is more information required and involved and it is there for us to make the most of it. We watch video tapes of previous games and analyse them on tactics employed.

I think we have got our opening combination, and as far as the combination is concerned Saurav and Sachin have been doing a good job. Or it could be Ramesh to chip in, if required. At least that is what I feel. But of course the selectors have yet to decide.

The ICC Trophy is a knock out tournament and if you lose one match you have to pack your bags I mean every match that you play is like a final. So I don't think that you can really experiment too much in these games.

Well we have Sodhi, who looks promising. Besides Robin, Yuvaraj also does bowl a bit and Hemang Badani bowls as well. This little bit of bowling and little bit of batting does always help.

Yes. In fact, I insist on Ramesh bowling at the nets and he has bowled in the matches as well. So why not? In fact, he has to continue with it and that is what I am trying to do - make as many players you get who can bowl and bat as well. It is an added advantage in One Day cricket.

Absolutely... Simply brilliant… we are very happy with it. So far, I have had two or three camps here and it was very nice…there has been no problem.

This time around I have no plans to take the boys out and as it is we are losing out on time because of the sudden rains. I was thinking of giving a day off for the boys, but because the camp itself is so short it will just break the continuity and since we are going to have matches immediately, we will have no time to recover.

The cricketing talent here is good. Quite a few players are performing well at the National level, but it is more important that they perform more consistently at the International level when they are given the opportunity. In my days, there were so many people who had the talent, but did not have the opportunity.

The camp has been excellent so far and to my satisfaction.

I have happy memories of Chennai. It is my favourite hunting ground. My favourite memory here is the match against the West Indies.

I would like to go to Mahabalipuram and relax in Fisherman's Cove.

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