For Sachin Tendulkar, an ideal coach is like a friend to the players and it makes no difference if he is an Indian or a foreigner since it only his performance that matters.
"I don't think it is about whether it is a foreign coach or an Indian coach. It's more about how consistently one can bring about results. A proper coach is one who understands the players and is more like a friend," Tendulkar said in his first interaction with media as a retired cricketer.
"We all know how to play the cover drive but when you have a technical problem, one should be able to sit and sort out with the coach. It's what you put between those two ears," Tendulkar replied to a question on whether he preferred foreign or Indian coaches.
In 24 years, Tendulkar has played under managership of Bishan Singh Bedi, Abbas Ali Baig, Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Angshuman Gaekwad, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Chandu Borde, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher to name a few.
He believes that a coach-player relationship should be sacrosanct.
"A coach is a coach. It doesn't matter as to where he comes from. A coach should be one in whom a player can confide his feelings. Confidence is so important in a coach-player relationship. To know that there is nothing that is leaked out," Tendulkar stated.
For Tendulkar, guiding his juniors as well as learning from them is a process he finds enriching.
"Even before I have retired, I have spend a lot of time with the India U-19 players (in Bangalore). I never made them public. Sometimes there are problems also but I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with them. I would continue to guide them but also keep a low profile," Tendulkar explained when asked as to how he would like to help the upcoming generation of cricketers.
