Ranking the 5 new Indian Cricket team coach candidates

#3 Phil Simmons

Simmons could be a useful addition to the Indian team

Phil Simmons has long been regarded as a top-drawer coach and has lent weight to that argument with a couple of decent outings.

The former cricketer oversaw Ireland’s transformation from mere also-rans to genuine giant-killers, a reputation strengthened by the Irish victories over England and the West Indies at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups respectively.

Moreover, he enabled a generation of Irish cricketers to realize their potential and develop their game technically. The likes of Gary Wilson, Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling have reaped the rewards and have found themselves proving their mettle for various teams in the English County circles.

The West Indian continued his growth as a coach when he combined his nation’s T20 riches into a tight-knit, title-winning machine at the 2016 ICC World T20. The Caribbean outfit’s commitment to a unified cause was quite refreshing to witness, considering the West Indians haven’t specialized in that facet over the last decade.

Additionally, he has helped Afghanistan establish itself as a dangerous cricketing unit, a team capable of ruffling feathers in international cricket.

Simmons pays an enormous amount of attention to detail and his arrival could allow a few Indian players to iron out the technical flaws that plague them currently. Apart from the above, he has also shown a propensity to be brave and shake up things when required, an aspect that might keep the team on its toes and force them to perform optimally. Thus, the appointment of Simmons has a lot of advantages.

However, the West Indian is a spikey character and likes complete autonomy in the dressing room, meaning it could sow the seeds of discontent amongst the Indian ranks. After all, the last time a superb cricketing mind tried to tweak things, the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli saga broke out, an episode which didn’t quite end on good terms.

Hence, despite the benefits Simmons might bring, the committee might not favor the West Indian as much as some of the others.