Cricket coach Tarak Sinha, Ustaad to stars, dies at 71

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 6

Tarak Sinha, the celebrated cricket coach who mentored and trained at least a dozen players to the international stage, died here today at age 71 after a battle with lung cancer.

Sinha, who was conferred with the lifetime Dronacharya Award in 2018, had also coached Rajasthan to two Ranji Trophy titles. He also served as the national women’s team coach in 2001-02, when he worked with emerging players who later became stars, such as Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj.

My mentor, coach, motivator, my biggest critic, and my greatest fan. You took care of me like your son, I am devastated Rishabh Pant, India cricketer

He was an institution. It was only his tapasya, nothing else. The old man did nothing for himself. He never charged money for anything Aakash Chopra, former India cricketer

Sinha never got married but was a father figure to dozens of cricketers who flocked to his nets at the city’s famous Sonnet Cricket Club. At least a dozen of his trainees went on to play for India, including Surinder Khanna, Sanjeev Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar, Raman Lamba, Ajay Sharma, Atul Wassan, Aakash Chopra, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Ashish Nehra, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Rana.

Pant, currently in the UAE with the Indian team at the T20 World Cup, said Sinha took care of him as his own son. “My mentor, coach, motivator, my biggest critic, and my greatest fan. You took care of me like your son, I am devastated,” Pant wrote on social media, adding: “You will always be with me whenever I walk out onto the field. My heartfelt condolences and prayers. May your soul rest in peace, Tarak sir.”

Generous man

Sinha was known as a generous man who helped young players without any expectation. “He was an institution. It was only his tapasya, nothing else. The old man did nothing for himself. Yes, he got the Dronacharya three four years ago, but he was selfless in helping countless cricketers,” Aakash Chopra said.

“He never charged money for anything,” added Chopra. “I don’t remember paying the club fees since I was 15. Bats, gloves and other gear… He kept giving us. He did a yeoman’s service to the game.”

Affectionately known as ‘Ustaadji’, Sinha wanted his wards to play Test cricket for India for he valued that as the top format of the sport. Before he made his India debut, Pant said in an interview: “I prefer One-day cricket but my sir (Sinha) doesn’t consider anyone an international player until he plays a Test. For sir, I have to play Test cricket. I also want to play Tests. In our club, only Test players are called ‘country’ players by sir.”

Chopra said today that Sinha stayed relevant with the times. “Ustaadji never allowed me to hit in the air but I am pretty sure he encouraged Rishabh Pant to hit in the air,” said Chopra, who played 10 Tests. “It shows he was always relevant to the times. He knew I can never be a Tendulkar but he was confident that I would be a better Test cricketer, the best that I could have done. A part of me died today.”

Khanna, who played 10 ODIs for India from 1979 to 1984, said: “I know Tarak ji since I was 13. I played with him and the club for 30 years and I played for India because of that. I was his favourite as he knew I had the talent. He like any other coach loved the way his net players progressed to major teams. Sad that our long association came to an end.”