Fired with enthusiasm

Unlike many other former first-class cricketers,Nandy doesn’t run an academy,nor is he attached to a coaching clinic. He is happy as the head coach of Mohun Bagan,where he has the freedom to do things in his own style.

“Money or fame is not very important to me. This is the reason why I didn’t open an academy after retiring as a player. I always wanted to work with the youth and was very happy to work with the Bengal U-16,U-17 and U-19 teams. Academy has become a fad in the last 10 years or so and in most cases commerce,rather than cricket takes precedence. There are too many trainees and too few coaches. Academies don’t produce great cricketers,” Nandy told The Sunday Express.

Nandy’s stint with the Bengal U-17 team in 20 00-01 unearthed a few uncut gems. Laxmi Ratan Shukla,Manoj Tiwary,Sourashis Lahiri,Shib Sagar Singh — all went on to play for the senior team and made significant contributions. Shukla and Tiwary even made it to the Indian ODI teams.

“The greatest feeling for a coach is to see his wards are getting national recognition. Believe me,the joy is even greater than scoring a double hundred in a crunch game,” Nandy says.

As a coach,Nandy not only looked after their cricket but also their lives. Ask Singh and you will know. “I came here as a teenager and had no place to stay. I was spending nights at the Town Club tent when Palashda took me to his home. I stayed with him for two years and was very well looked after. Without his help I wouldn’t have played for Bengal,” says Singh.

There are other players as well like Kunal,who is from New Barrackpore,whose careers wouldn’t have progressed without Nandy’s help. “I don’t have the money to sponsor a group of youngsters. I try to help in my own little way. It’s no big deal. Everybody wants to see a quality talent prosper,” Nandy tries to be modest.

Nandy was raised in a cricketing family — his father Bhupathi Chandra played cricket at first-class level. He learnt the game at Deshbandhu Park under Pulak Biswas. “Pulakda is the biggest influence in my life. As a coach,I try to follow his methods,” Nandy says.

As an opening batsman,Nandy played 57 first class matches from 1969-70 to 1983-84. Then he coached Bengal and guided them to the Ranji Trophy triumph in 1989-90. The title came after half a century but the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) never officially recognised his contribution. “The CAB doesn’t give recognition to the coaches,” Nandy laments over. He,however,doesn’t have anyregrets,for he has the respect of the Maidan.