'Man for crisis' named U-25 cricket coach

Amidst the controversy surrounding the naming of selectors and coaches, the appointment of Vinayak Samant as coach of the Mumbai U-25 side came as a breath of fresh air.

The 40-year-old champion wicketkeeper, a loyal servant of Mumbai cricket, always wore his heart on his sleeve and displayed the city?s renowned khadoos attitude in abundance. One can expect his wards to play the game with the same vigour.

Samant became a part of the Mumbai side at 30 after Sameer Dighe quit.
Dighe?s presence had forced Samant to play for Assam, but he returned to Mumbai and donned the gloves for eight fruitful years. A great character and mimic artist, he was part of five Ranji Trophy-winning sides, clinching many a match with the bat too. Remember the 2006-07 Ranji semifinal against Baroda? Mumbai were reduced to 0/5 before Samant scored a 136-ball 66 to his side.

Samant was not surprised when he got the news of his appointment. ?I was expecting something since I was the coaching one of the teams in the Madhav Mantri Under-25 tournament. So it is not really a surprise. But I am obviously happy because this team will feed players to the Ranji set-up. It is a big responsibility because Mumbai have a reputation to defend every time they step onto the field,? he told dna.

Samant, who has replaced Vilas Godbole, 72, said he wants to his boys to imbibe the Mumbai attitude. ?I will be a friend to the boys. I will try to solve their problems and make them believe what they can do. I want to make them khadoos and create the Mumbai culture that we had in the Ranji team,? he added.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1850471/report-man-for-crisis-named-u-25-cricket-coach

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