NEW DELHI: Nearly two decades after guiding a youthful India side to the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup title, Lalchand Rajput is back on the global stage, though the landscape and the stakes have changed.
Now head coach of the United Arab Emirates, the former India player is navigating the challenges of associate-level cricket as his team prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka — only the third appearance for the Gulf nation at the sport’s premier short-format tournament.
The UAE failed to progress beyond the Super Eights in their previous two outings and face a daunting task this time in a group that includes test-playing nations South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan.
For Rajput, the immediate aim is modest but meaningful.“Our main goal for now will be to upset one good top test-playing nation,” he told Reuters in a video interview. “It will give these young players a taste of what is required to win against a strong team and prepare us for the next time.”
The shift from a cricketing powerhouse like India to an associate nation such as the UAE brings a different set of challenges, largely centred on limited exposure and a lack of high-intensity match practice. Associate nations are those outside the 12 recognised test-playing countries, and Rajput is candid about the gap.
At the associate level, they don’t play much cricket. They don’t get that exposure,” said Rajput, who took over the role in February 2024. “And that’s a challenge for any coach.”Still, he believes progress is being made.“With my experience, definitely this year we are better,” he added.
The work is in progress because you cannot change overnight.”Despite having a pool of promising talent, the former India opener insists that sustained improvement will depend on mental strength and belief.
Building trust and developing the psychological resilience of his players remain at the core of Rajput’s coaching philosophy as the UAE look to make their mark on the world stage.
