Current Lanka coach credits former India coach

Colombo: World champions India’s success is, to an extent, a result of the initiatives taken by their former coach Greg Chappell during his controversy-marred two-year stint with the team, feels outgoing Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss.

The controversial Australian’s tumultuous tenure ended after the India’s first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. “I really don’t know what went wrong with Greg. But I am sure the kind of hard work that Greg put in during his times like shuffling the team and giving the younger players a chance is playing a part in India’s success now,” Bayliss said.

Post Chappell, India enjoyed a hugely successful period under the guidance of former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten.

The winning run that started with the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2008-09 culminated with the silverware in Mumbai last Saturday.