New Coach Niraj Odedra On Local Cricket
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermuda’s new short-term head coach Niraj Odedra believes the national team players are ideally suited to the Twenty20 format and wants to develop white-ball cricket on the island.
Odedra, who started his 2½ month assignment this month, will lead the national team at the third and final leg of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B in Jersey next month.
The 46-year-old played first-class cricket for Saurashtra in western India for five years before becoming their assistant coach in 2014, helping them reach four Ranji Trophy finals in five years.
He has temporarily left his coaching role at Saurashtra to take charge of Bermuda.
“Last year [Saurashtra] did really well when it came to white-ball cricket, and I think that white-ball cricket suits this island as well,” Odedra told a Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] press conference last week.
“The more I see of them [Bermuda players], I think they are very strong, agile, fast-moving cricketers, and I want to develop that form of cricket here. I’ve been going to different clubs, and I think cricket is thriving here on the island.”
Odedra was approached by Elliott Wilson, the Bermuda director of cricket, about taking the head coach position and said the opportunity to lead a national team was too good to turn down.
“One of the reasons why I took on this job is that I thought it would be good to learn about a different culture when it comes to cricket and that it would be good learning for me as well,” said Odedra.
“I want to grab it with both hands and do what is best for Bermuda. [Coaching] a nation, a country, is big for any coach.”
Wilson, a former player for English county side Worcestershire, said there is a strong possibility Odedra will continue assisting the national team programme beyond his short-term deal.
“He will make himself available to us after the interim period if he feels this is something he wants to commit to,” said Wilson, who moved to the island in 2018 after marrying a Bermudian.
“If Bermuda cricket wants to be fantastic, you have [Odedra] sitting here. Nothing is limiting the national players with his guidance. We’re lucky to be getting him in at 46, not 66.
“His off-season coaching duties in India tie in with our domestic season. The only thing that could stop it is if he gets called into the IPL [the Indian Premier League], but even that’s a small window. This could be a long-term arrangement.
“Niraj and I are ex-first-class players, I played 64 games for Worcestershire and was an opening batsman, so there is that cricket understanding.”
Although Wilson’s role at the BCB is part-time, he said he is “itching to contribute to the Bermuda cricket community” and has quickly immersed himself in the island’s cricket culture.
“This all came about when you advertised for a head coach,” said Wilson, who owns a financial advising company. “The head coach role is a full-time role, so I can’t help with that, but I absolutely thought of Niraj.
“We not only played first-class cricket but coached together in the past, and Niraj, for me, is at a fantastic stage of his career.
“There are some very talented cricket players on the island, and we can hugely improve results and implement game plans that will be very effective and simple. We’ve got big opportunities with T20 next year.”
Wilson said he wants secure private funding from the corporate sector to help improve the island’s cricket facilities and has urged the local players to play their part in elevating the sport.
“I feel like there is a lot of potential on the island, and what I’m going to try to do in my role of director of cricket is quite a lot of off-field stuff as well,” said the 45-year-old.
