Dishant Yagnik appointed as Pondicherry head coach

Dishant Yagnik has been named as the coach of Pondicherry team for the domestic season 2021-22. Yagnik returns to the team after serving as a fielding coach in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons respectively. Of late, things have not been pleasant to former Rajasthan player, who was also recently sacked as an assistant coach by the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) for the senior men’s team.

But a reunion of sorts with old team Pondicherry might help him to move on from that unfavorable experience. The 38-year-old is looking forward to coaching at the senior level and wishes to succeed at the highest level. Yagnik coached Pondicherry when they were still relatively new in the Ranji circuit. But over the past few years, the side has grown remarkably and is keener to evolve under an experienced coach like Yagnik.

“In a coaching role at the domestic level, I started with Pondicherry and at that time the team was also newly introduced to the set-up. I was part of the team that had a set culture there, so I am happy about going back to them. Yes, this time I have bigger responsibility as a head coach, but I always wanted to be the one and, now I am eagerly looking forward to the challenge,” Yagnik, who is also the fielding coach of Rajasthan Royals, told Times of India.

He further opined that the stint with Pondicherry will help him learn the dynamics of coaching. “I will try my best to ensure there are positive results. Importantly, I will also get to learn the dynamics of being a head coach, and the part where you are entrusted with the responsibility to take the major calls really excites me.”

Dishant Yagnik hopes to one day be a coach of the Rajasthan team

The 38-year-old concluded by saying that he wishes to be the head coach for his state team and feels he can make the team a champion in all three formats.

“I strongly feel I can become Rajasthan’s head coach in the near future, and I can make this team a champion outfit in all three formats. Players in Rajasthan have so much potential.”

Moreover, I never gave any reaction to the media and, I want to clear that first. And I feel it was unjust to take a call on me based on reports in the media. Having said that, I respect the people in the association and will look forward to working with them again someday,” Yagnik said.