India marks Teachers' Day every year on 5 September, the birthday of the country's Vice President and second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The day is not reserved only for schoolteachers, it is equally a moment to remember the coaches who shape athletes on the field.
In sport, a coach's job goes well beyond drilling technique. A good mentor also teaches an athlete to fight through every setback the game throws at them, building the mental toughness needed to get back up after a defeat. Indian cricket has had several such gurus who turned ordinary children into stars for the country. On Teachers' Day, some of these coach-player pairings that reshaped Indian cricket are worth recalling.
Sachin Tendulkar and Ramakant Achrekar
The most celebrated name in Indian cricket's coaching history is the pairing of Sachin Tendulkar and his coach Ramakant Achrekar. Achrekar Sir made young Sachin practise for hours in the nets at Mumbai's Shivaji Park and turned discipline into his defining habit. It was this rigorous grounding and hard work that eventually earned Sachin the title of the 'God' of cricket.
Virat Kohli and Rajkumar Sharma
The story of how Virat Kohli became cricket's 'King' begins with his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma. Rajkumar Sir did not just teach Virat the finer points of batting, he also made him mentally tough enough that, the very day after losing his father, Virat could walk out and play a match. Even after reaching the peak of the game, Virat Kohli continues to hold his coach in the highest regard.
MS Dhoni and Keshav Ranjan
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who captained India to two World Cup titles, arrived in cricket almost by chance. During his school days in Ranchi's Shyamali locality, Dhoni used to play as a football goalkeeper. Noticing his quick reflexes, school coach Keshav Ranjan suggested he try wicketkeeping in cricket instead. That one piece of advice went on to shape Dhoni into one of the most successful captains the game has seen.
Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Lad
In the journey of Team India's 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma, coach Dinesh Lad's role has been no less than that of a family member. Coming from a financially modest family, Rohit was treated like a son by Dinesh Lad from the very beginning. Lad taught him discipline along with the batting methods needed to dominate bowlers. Even after reaching the top, Rohit Sharma still bows in respect to his first coach.
Rishabh Pant and Tarak Sinha
Rishabh Pant, known worldwide today for his explosive batting, owes much of that reputation to his childhood coach Tarak Sinha. When Rishabh moved from Uttarakhand to Delhi, Tarak Sinha recognised his fearless batting style and shaped it in the right direction. He would scold Rishabh hard whenever he erred, while also showering him with fatherly affection.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Manish Ojha
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made international headlines by debuting at the age of just 15, owes his rise in no small part to coach Manish Ojha, whose role has been the backbone of his career. Ojha spotted Vaibhav's talent at a very young age and worked on fixing the technical flaws in his game. It is this guidance, combined with Vaibhav's relentless hard work, that has made him a global sensation at such a young age.
No Success Story Is Complete Without a Mentor
From Sachin Tendulkar to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a trusted mentor's hand is visible at the root of every one of these success stories. Some coaches polish technique, others offer emotional support in the toughest moments. This guru-shishya tradition has kept producing new stars for Indian cricket generation after generation, and Teachers' Day is the day to salute these often unsung hard workers.
