Sacked Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya has said that he was not taken into confidence by the Delhi District and Cricket Association on his availability for the upcoming domestic season.
The DDCA, on Friday, removed Dahiya citing unavailability due to his commitments with IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders as an assistant coach and elevated his deputy Sanjeev Sharma to the position. “I don’t want to say anything. No one has asked my anything. What can I say? Nobody has called me up whether I am available or not available. That’s it all I have to say,” Dahiya said.
In the last four years, Dahiya was in charge on two occasions and in both the seasons Delhi triumphed in two different formats. While the 2007-08 season saw them crowned Ranji champions, they clinched their maiden Vijay Hazare national one-day championship last season.
“When I was coach on two occasions during the last four years, we won two championships. Once we have been in the semi-finals (Ranji), so you can look at the performance but I don’t want to go there and I don’t have much to say.”
But the former India wicket-keeper added that he was open to the idea of coaching the team again in future if given a chance.
“It’s about a few people. I love cricket and I love coaching. I have all the time for Delhi. Just because some people have taken a decision, why should I cut my association with the state. Delhi has got some fantastic boys and I love to be associated with the cricket here.”
Cricketers who have played under Dahiya as coach, have words of praise for him, specially for his man management skills.
“The bonding in the team was very good as he was like an elder brother. You can discuss everything with him and not only cricket. He knew how to extract output from the players. He played with many senior players and that probably benefited him,” says a Delhi Ranji regular.
“He is a good coach and has done a great job with the team. His man-management skills are very good,” says another team member.