It was during my stint as a sports reporter in Mumbai years ago that I met coach Ramakant Achrekar. His protégé, Sachin Tendulkar, had yet to become a superstar. At the time, Achrekar was better known as the coach of Lalchand Rajput, now the coach of the UAE team, and wicketkeeper-batsman Chandrakant Pandit. When Rajput and Pandit, both of whom hailed from Mumbai, played for India during 1985–86, Achrekar was mentioned as their coach.
Back then, since I wanted to write a feature on Achrekar, I visited Shivaji Park—the same venue where, on December 3, 2024, a memorial in his honour was unveiled. All his students who went on to become outstanding cricketers, including Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Paras Mhambrey, Sanjay Bangar, and Sameer Dighe, attended the unveiling event.
Besides teaching techniques about the game, a coach imparts knowledge about the game itself. Coaches like Achrekar also gave life lessons alongside cricketing skills, and that could be one of the reasons why Rajput, Pandit, Amre, and many of his students went on to become successful coaches after their playing days.
In the UAE, Gopal Jasapara is one such coach who encourages youngsters to learn more than just the technical aspects of the game. Incidentally, it was Jasapara who brought Achrekar to Dubai in 2004 to conduct a coaching clinic for a few days.
I will never forget one of Achrekar’s remarks in response to my question about how much effort a cricketer needs to put in to become an outstanding player. His reply was straightforward: “It depends on the individual. The boy himself should be able to determine how much he should work to correct himself.”
After Achrekar gained fame as a legendary coach for producing a stream of cricketing stars, I asked him to pick one quality he had seen in players who succeeded at the highest level. His answer was as simple as his coaching style: “Natural talent is essential. A coach can only polish that talent. It is up to the player to work hard and climb to the top.”
When some of his players reached the top but later began to falter, I was reminded of his belief that it is ultimately the player’s responsibility to work hard. Often, coaches are unfairly blamed for a player’s lack of consistency, but Achrekar’s words stayed with me: It is up to the individual to maintain their standards.
I met Achrekar again in 2004 at his coaching clinic in Dubai. His daughter accompanied him, and he introduced me to her as a journalist he had met in Mumbai. During that meeting, I finally asked him a question about Tendulkar that had been on my mind for a while: “What was the best advice you have given him?” His reply was: “Always be hungry for runs. Never be satisfied with a good knock.”
He then added that Tendulkar had fully embraced this advice.
I followed up with another question: “How proud are you of Tendulkar?”
His answer was characteristically modest: “I am proud of him.”
After a pause, he added, “I feel happy only if he keeps performing better each time.”
Jasapara, who was with me during this interaction, asked Achrekar for his advice to the young cricketers in Dubai who were aspiring to excel. Achrekar replied: “I understand that most cricketers here practice only two days a week. I strongly believe in the motto: ‘Practice makes a man perfect.’ A cricketer should practice every day if he wants to become a top player.”
I often quote Achrekar’s emphasis on practice during my motivational talks. His belief in the power of consistent effort resonates not just with aspiring cricketers but with anyone aiming to excel in any field.
