Building the 'Thinking Cricketer'

It's not what you know as a coach, it's what the players know. Our process involves learning, revision through demonstrations, execution, and reflection to create thinking players, not robots.

In this interview, I explain what separates good athletes from great ones. It's about game awareness, learning from mistakes, and knowing when to do what, not just repeating skills in the nets.

My advice to young players is to focus on becoming the best player in your team, not on selection. A complete player has skill, a great mindset, and the right temperament to handle pressure.

The mental aspect is key. I encourage players to play with freedom and love for the game, rather than the pressure of proving themselves. A clear mind leads to better decisions and performance.

The second floor of building a player is handling success and failure. At this stage, they are skilled but require more mentorship than coaching to navigate the mental challenges of the game.

The first floor of building a player is the physical part. Between 14 and 17, players grow physically strong and quick, and our training focuses on harnessing this development.

I believe you build a player like you build a house, floor by floor. It starts with a strong foundation and progresses through different stages of physical, mental, and emotional development.

The top floor is the player's own desire to be successful. If a player is self-motivated and willing to come for training without being pushed, they will achieve great things regardless of talent.

This is an advanced drill to connect the conscious and subconscious mind. Our 17-year-old athlete practices playing with her eyes closed at the point of impact to trust her instincts and sharpen her reactions.