'I am just concerned about how best you can contribute'

Whichever the format maybe, Karnataka have been tagged one of the favourites in recent times. Yere Goud, the newly-appointed batting coach, is aware of the expectations from a side that has produced impressive results in the last five years.

“Be it any tournament, pressure is always there if you are part of a Karnataka team,” said Goud, after his side’s practice session at the KSCA ‘B’ ground.

Goud appeared composed ahead of the challenge of defending the Vijay Hazare Trophy in his first assignment as the coach. “We need to accept the pressure and move on,” he added. Karnataka face Maharashtra in the opener here at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Thursday.

Goud, a former Karnataka skipper, explained his method of mentoring the side. “I believe in how best you can play this game -- physically, mentally and tactically. That’s what I am looking at. I am not looking from the point of view of results. As I player, I am concerned about how best you can contribute on that particular day,” he offered.

Karnataka’s quest to make the knockouts won’t be easy with quality teams like Mumbai, Vidarbha, Baroda and Punjab in the fray. “It’s good to be in such a group because you are on your toes from the first game. With the new format, there is room for complacency as everything depends on the points earned,” he said.

The 46-year-old brings in the experience of 134 first-class matches and 49 List A games. Goud was happy to work with his former team-mates R Vinay Kumar, the captain, and bowling coach S Arvind. “With Vinay being the captain, my job becomes easier. I have played with Arvind as well while CM (Gautam) was junior. I feel I can understand them better. If they aren’t performing the way they want to, then I can understand their thought process and help them do well,” he said.

While Manish Pandey and K L Rahul are busy with their international duties, a couple of others like Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair are on the national selectors’ radar. It will take a clever use of youngsters in case Karnataka miss out on some senior heads during the season.

“We have many talented youngsters like MG Naveen, Abhishek Reddy and Sharath BR. We are trying to groom them. It’s a long season and I am sure most of them will get their chances,” said Goud.

DH News Service