Exclusive - Greg Chappell Made Me Believe A 'Kerala Player' Can Win Match For India: S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth started his international career under Greg Chappell but he had a different opinion about the Australian who had a tumultuous time as Team India head coach. Team India disrupted as an unit under the coaching of Greg Chappell. His two-year stint between 2005 to 2007 saw the national team in its worst shape.

Players were not happy with his management, he had a spat with captain Sourav Ganguly, and many still voice their opinions against him, including the likes of veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh. Senior players often complained that Chappell had implemented the divide and rule policy in the team.

S Sreesanth: On personal note, Greg Chappell helped me a lot

S Sreesanth owes a lot to MRF Foundation where he trained under a great like Dennis Lillee for his success in fast bowling. He believes, Greg Chappell being an Australian, might have found it difficult to operate in India due to cultural differences. He also mentioned the major difference between Chappell and Gary Kirsten was that the 2011 World Cup winning coach knew what to do with the individuals.

However, Sreesanth said, on a personal note Chappell helped him a lot. He made him understand that Dennis Lillee appreciates him as a fast bowler. Moreover, Chappell made him realise that a Kerala player can win a match for the national team.

“I’ve to be very honest, a lot of people have got their own personal experience, their own way of approach to their life. But for me, personally, I come from MRF Foundation and one of his friends Dennis Lillee sir, have been very fortunate to work with him. Had understood the Australian way because it’s, it’s a difficult thing to do maybe the operations, culture difference,” S Sreesanth told CricketAddictor in an exclusive interview.

“Maybe Greg Chappell sir didn’t understand to start with, that is the biggest difference between Gary Kirsten and Greg Chappell. Gary Kirsten knew what to do with every individual, it was not the same thing for everybody. They both are legendary cricketers, commentators and selectors

“On personal note, he has helped me a lot, to make me understand Dennis Lillee respects you and appreciates you, even that one line it always motivated me. A lot of people won’t like what I will say because he has been thrown out of proportion, especially when I was making a comeback, maybe this might backfire me. I’m not supporting Greg Chappell but I’m really grateful to that man, who made a Kerala cricketer realise, you can win matches for the country,” Sreesanth added.

Sreesanth has 87 Test wickets and 75 ODI wickets to his name.