For Vinod Phadke, the manager of the victorious Under 19team it was a memorable occasion as his prediction of a win at the world cup cametrue. He spoke to The Goan from Mumbai on the experience of managing a group ofyoung talented boys who were about to embark on the biggest test of their youngcareers.
The Goan: India lost the first match, what was the feeling, how didyou turn it around?
VP: We wereconfident, it was just that some of our batsmen failed that day. We had verygood batsmen who could perform. The confidence was apparent during our matchagainst Pakistan. We needed to score 10 odd runs with the final pair at thecrease and they calmly completed the task.
TG: What was the key component that marked this team?
VP: Very goodfast bowlers and great spinners marked us as different from the rest of theteams in the tournament. Sandeep Sharma was brilliant right through thetournament. His first wicket in the finals was similar to the delivery bowledby Sandhu in 1983. Harmeet was in great form as a spinner. Unmukt Chand wasinspirational throughout the tournament and we all know what he did in thefinals. He played a captain’s knock and showed us what he is capable of.
TG: How is the mood in an under 19 dressing room different fromthat in the seniors?
VP: The under 19 boys still have thatchildish nature and they tend to get carried away. We, the coaching staff andother personnel are required to then handle them. I looked after them like Iwould my own son. This is the second time I was appointed manager of the team.When they learnt of this they expressed their happiness and said that now wewould win the tournament.
TG: Who do you think can make a mark from this team in the nationalteam?
VP: Unmukthas already been selected for the India A squad. I have watched Kohli who waspart of the under 19 team when I was the manager. I had then predicted thenthat he would make a mark in the national team. Today, I can say that Unmukt iseven better than Kohli at 19. Smit Patel was consistent throughout thetournament and was very competent as a wicketkeeper. Sehwag is now getting oldand his reflexes are slowing down and he does not want to open. So there arespots vacant in the national team. With regards to the bowlers, Harmeet singh wasgreat. He reminded me of the great spinners of the seventies. These boys have to score the runs and takethe wickets when it matters and make a mark. The rest will all happen.
TG: Why has a single Goan player not made it to the under 19 team?
VP: Well forthat matter players from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala were also not there.I am sure that will change in the years to come.
TG: Which Goan player do you feel can play in the under 19 team inthe future?
VP: Well, Kumud Desai is very promising. He hasanother year in the under 19 age group. He can certainly make a mark if hecontinues to keep scoring runs.
