WV Raman Mentions ‘Star Culture’ In India Women’s Team In A Letter To Sourav Ganguly And Rahul Dravid- Reports

Former head coach of the India women’s team WV Raman has written a scathing letter to BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and NCA head Rahul Dravid and has mentioned that “prima donna culture” in the national team and needs to change, on Thursday.

WV Raman, who was recently replaced by Ramesh Powar, was the head coach of the Indian team from 2018- 2021 and had actually taken over from Pawar himself, who was ousted in a controversial fashion. According to PTI, the former India international has also offered to present a roadmap for women’s cricket in the country, if asked.

I Have Always ‘Believed In Team Being Placed Above Everybody Else, And Insisted That No Individual Can Really Be A Prima Donna’: WV Raman

Madan Lal-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), did not retain WV Raman as the head coach of the senior women’s team, despite him guiding the Indian team to the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020, against Australia and which was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in front of 80,000 plus fans.

“As far as I know, Raman has said that he has always ‘believed in team being placed above everybody else, and insisted that no individual can really be a prima donna’. Raman has asked Dada (Ganguly) that if a past accomplished performer feels constrained by this culture, then he (Ganguly) as a former India captain, should take a call on this matter, whether the coach is asking for too much,” a source privy to Raman’s mail told PTI.

The 55-year-old’s letter to the two former captains is sure to ruffle a few feathers given that it has always been the coaches who have either stepped aside or sacked following rifts with players. The same thing happened with Ramesh Pawar, who was accused by Mithali Raj of bias, after she was dropped from the playing XI of the semi-final of the 2018 T20 World Cup against England.

She had also alleged that Powar “was out to destroy and humiliate” her. Powar had hit back asserting that Mithali “threw a lot of tantrums and created chaos in the team”.

It was also learnt that Raman was not happy with allegations that he was not proactive as a coach and underlined the fact that oversaw three training sessions (for Trailblazers, Velocity, and Supernovas) between 1 pm to 9 pm in humid UAE conditions during the Women’s T20 Challenge in 2020.

“In case the president and secretary want to hear his opinion on allegations about his work ethic, he can explain. When it comes to building a coaching manual or a training program for cricketers, it is the NCA which takes charge. So if Raman has any inputs with regards to training modules for upcoming women cricketers, the best person certainly is NCA head Rahul Dravid,” the source stated.

Also Read: Sacking Of WV Raman And Reappointment Of Ramesh Powar As Indian Women’s Team Coach Sparks Controversy