‘Shane Warne taught me not to fear failure; Kerala has plenty of quality players’: Swapnil Asnodkar

After working with Kerala’s Under-23 side last season, Swapnil Asnodkar is now stepping into the role of head coach of the senior team. He is optimistic about the talent among Kerala’s young players and the strength of the team’s bowling unit.

Asnodkar says the goal is to perform well across formats and take the team forward. He also wants his players to overcome the fear of failure, trust their abilities and focus on the process rather than the outcome. Swapnil Asnodkar speaks to Mathrubhumi.com about his new role as Kerala senior team head coach, his plans for the season and the road ahead.

What is your main goal after taking charge of the Kerala senior team?

I worked with Kerala’s Under-23 team last year, so I already have some experience with the setup. The goal is to perform well and qualify across all formats.

It will not be easy because there are several other strong and competitive teams. But rather than worrying too much about the opposition, we want to play our own brand of cricket and focus on our strengths.

How do you assess the current Kerala squad?

It is a good team. Having Jalaj Saxena and Sarwate back is an added advantage, and Nidheesh has also been in good form. So the bowling unit looks strong. In batting, we need the experienced players to take responsibility and score big runs. Once the batters put enough runs on the board, it will become easier for the bowlers to get the opposition out.

The batting line-up is slightly inexperienced, but there are some very good youngsters to watch out for. I hope they take responsibility and produce big performances.

How do you assess Kerala’s bench strength?

There are several good players coming through. When I worked with the Under-23 side last year, I saw Varun perform really well. Imran was another player who did well, while Shaun also produced good performances in patches. Manav performed well too and later went on to play for India Under-19.

There is healthy competition among the players, and that is a very positive sign for Kerala cricket. Everyone will push each other to perform better.

You are often remembered as an aggressive opening batter, though you also played long innings in first-class cricket. Will your coaching style also be aggressive?

I was not always an aggressive batter. If you look at my first-class record, you will understand that I was more of a player who took responsibility and kept batting at one end. T20 was different. The format demanded that kind of aggressive approach, and I adapted my game accordingly.

The approach should change according to what each format demands.

What was the biggest lesson you learnt from playing under Shane Warne? How has it influenced you as a coach?

The biggest lesson I learnt from him was to be honest in your approach. Do not overthink. Trust what you have prepared for and give your best. Instead of thinking too much about the final result, focus on the process.

You cannot control everything, and you cannot expect every day to be your day.

Most importantly, do not be afraid of failure. Trust yourself, trust your process and play the best cricket you know. That is something I learnt from him, and it is what I want to pass on to my players as well.

What impact can seeing a 15-year-old like Vaibhav Suryavanshi play for India have on young cricketers?

It is a great motivation for young players. We saw Sachin Tendulkar play for India at a very young age, and now we are seeing Suryavanshi getting an opportunity at such a young age. The BCCI and its development system deserve credit for identifying and fast-tracking talented players.

The message for every young cricketer is simple: if you are good enough, nobody can stop you. You have to go out there and play the best cricket you can.

How would you like to use Sanju Samson’s experience if he is available for Kerala?

If Sanju is available at some stage, it will be a huge boost for the team. He is not only a very good player and captain but also someone with tremendous experience. If he is in the dressing room, it will make many things easier for me in terms of handling the team and making decisions.

His experience can also help Kerala cricket nurture young players and take them forward.

What do you expect to be the biggest challenge as head coach of the Kerala senior team?

Fortunately, I have already spent a year with Kerala’s Under-23 side, so I have a fair idea about the setup. However, most of the senior-team players are new to me. There are only a few players whom I have coached before. The biggest challenge will be to bring everyone together and get the team moving in one direction.

We are in a professional environment, and everyone has to understand their responsibility. Whatever we do should be in the best interests of the team.

Kerala has plenty of talented young players. What is your plan to help them reach the next level?

The most important thing is to give talented players the right roadmap. My job is to help them become more consistent. If you have talent, you should not take it for granted or allow it to go to waste. You have to put in the extra effort and convert that talent into strong performances.

My role will be to motivate the players, guide them in the right direction and help them get better.

When it comes to team selection, what should matter more, current form or reputation and past performances?

That is ultimately up to the team management and the selectors. I will play my part and give my input wherever required, but the selectors will handle the final selection decisions.

How can Kerala make better use of home conditions?

Kerala reached the final two seasons ago, while last season was not one of the best. So we need to become more consistent.

We have to understand what our strengths are and stick to them. As I said earlier, I would rather focus on our own strengths than spend too much time thinking about the opposition.

The players should focus on what they can contribute to the team. The team goal must always come before individual goals.

Kerala has produced many talented cricketers, but comparatively few have reached the senior Indian team. How do you view that?

I come from Goa, where we have had very few international players. If you look at Kerala, Tinu Yohannan has played for India, S. Sreesanth has played for India, and Sanju Samson is playing for India. Several Kerala players have also represented India at junior levels.

There cannot be a better motivation for young cricketers. Young players should look at those who have already reached that level, set their own goals and work towards reaching the same level or going even further.

Does the attention given to the IPL affect players’ attitude towards domestic cricket?

The four-day format and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy are different formats, but both are important. If players perform really well across these formats, it becomes easier for IPL scouts and teams to identify them.

Scouts also watch competitions such as the KCL. If players who are already on their radar then perform well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Ranji Trophy, opportunities can open up. Whether it is the Ranji Trophy, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the IPL, every competition is a good platform. Ultimately, performances are what take a player forward. The key is to keep performing across formats.

How do you view the opportunity to become head coach of the Kerala senior team?

I would like to thank the Kerala Cricket Association for giving me this opportunity and for trusting me with the responsibility of coaching the senior team. It is a great honour to be part of the Kerala Cricket Association and to coach this team. I am really looking forward to the challenge, and hopefully, good things will happen over the next few months.