'Want to bring Mumbai's 'khadoos' mindset to UAE': Lalchand Rajput

NEW DELHI: Grind it out, occupy the crease for as long as possible, and never throw your wicket away after crossing 20 — that’s the 'Khadoos' mindset

UAE

's new head coach Lalchand Rajput is trying to instill in his players. A former India international, Rajput played two Tests and four ODIs between 1985 and 1987. But he is best remembered for his role in India’s historic triumph at the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where he served as the manager of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side that lifted the trophy.Post that success, Rajput transitioned into full-time coaching.

Over the years, he has taken charge of several national teams — India, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and now the United Arab Emirates. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Currently, Rajput has his eyes set on three major assignments with the UAE cricket team. First, the 2025 Asia Cup, for which the UAE have already qualified after a commanding 55-run win over Oman in the ACC Men's Premier Cup final. Second, the T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers — with the main tournament to be held in India and Sri Lanka. And third, looking further ahead, Rajput believes UAE are on track to qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup, given their recent performances and stupendous results.

In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, Rajput shared his vision, strategy, and the cultural transformation he’s aiming to bring into UAE cricket.How has the ILT20 contributed to the development of UAE cricketers?It has contributed immensely. When UAE players rub shoulders with international cricketers, they learn a lot. I’ve seen noticeable growth in their overall cricketing environment — whether it’s batting, bowling, or fielding. The mental aspect is especially important. Interacting with top players helps them understand what they do right — how they prepare, how mentally strong they are. All these factors combined have made UAE cricketers tougher, stronger, and most importantly, unafraid of failure.The Champions Trophy was held in the UAE — how significant was that moment for local players?It was a huge boost, I would say. If you look at the Champions Trophy matches, the stadiums were packed. The India–Pakistan game was completely sold out, not a single seat was available. Even the semi-final against New Zealand and the final were played in front of full houses. Whenever India plays, there’s massive fan following — not just locally, but across the world. People love to watch stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and other top players. For UAE players and fans, it’s a big opportunity to see these cricketers up close. The public enjoys it, and there’s no doubt the Champions Trophy plays a key role in promoting the game here. If you look at the younger generation — the U16s and U19s — they’re all inspired and want to play cricket, make a name for themselves, and eventually represent the national team. So yes, it's a major boost for UAE cricket and the board as well. Hosting such big matches offers invaluable experience — not just for players, but for everyone involved. I’m 100% sure it has helped the UAE board, the cricketers, and the fans alike.

In what ways has the ILT20 evolved with each passing season?Every season has contributed new players to the UAE cricket board. This time as well, we've seen several talents emerge from the ILT20. The message is clear — if you perform well, the next step is playing for the national team. Earlier, players didn’t take things as seriously. There was inconsistency — someone would perform in one game, then go quiet for the next three or four. Many were content with scoring 40s and 50s because they knew there wasn’t much competition or bench strength, so they’d stay in the team longer. But now, thanks to the ILT20, we're seeing fresh faces every season. There’s genuine competition — among batters, bowlers — which is great for team dynamics. It also gives coaches more options and helps build a stronger bench, which is essential for a strong national side. The same impact is visible at the Under-19 level too. Many U-19 players are now aiming for national selection and even get to bowl in the nets to ILT20 players. That experience is invaluable for their development. ILT20 has truly breathed new life into the UAE’s young cricketers. They now have a chance to share space with players who’ve featured in the IPL — and that makes a huge difference. Earlier, they only watched IPL stars on TV. Now, they get to interact with them, learn how they train, and understand the mindset required to succeed at that level. IPL is arguably the best tournament in the world, and every player dreams of being part of it. ILT20 gives them a chance to rub shoulders with such stars and grow in the process. I’m 100% sure ILT20 has helped UAE players improve and become better cricketers.

Have you come across any standout or rare talent within the UAE team? Could you name a few promising players?Technically speaking, in batting, Tanish Suri is one player who has really been performing well. Then we have Alishan Sharafu, another consistent performer. Rahul Chopra, a middle-order batsman who came from Haryana, brings that 'khadoos' Indian mindset — he’s another solid prospect. Among spinners, Simranjit Singh from Punjab — a left-arm spinner who played Under-19 cricket there — has impressed recently, though he hadn’t received many opportunities earlier. Then there’s Dhruv Parashar, an off-spinner with a tall frame, who bowls like R. Ashwin. He has variations like the knuckle ball, can bowl leg-spin as well, and contributes with the bat — a very promising all-rounder. In the pace department, Rohit Khan is a standout. He will become eligible to play for UAE by June-July and has shown great potential. We also have Zahid Khan, Matiullah, and Javadullah, along with our senior-most pacer, Junaid, who has been a mainstay. Overall, we have a good bunch of players. Earlier, they didn’t get enough matches, but now that they’re rubbing shoulders with top international cricketers, I’m confident we’ll see a lot more UAE players making their mark in the near future.

Have you noticed a growing enthusiasm among youngsters to pursue cricket as a career since the ILT20 came to the UAE?Definitely. A lot of youngsters are coming through now — they attend camps, they’re eager to play, and they want to take up the game seriously. Earlier, if you had around 100 kids playing at the junior level, now that number has grown to over 500. That’s a big leap. We’ve also started an Under-16 tournament recently, in addition to the Under-19 setup, which is a very positive step. Another major change is the introduction of red-ball cricket — two-day matches — which never existed here before. Earlier, players only had exposure to T10, T20, or 50-over formats. But if you want to score a hundred, you need to bat for two to three hours. That’s the mindset we’re building now. Previously, players would just hit quick 30s or 40s in T20s and be done. Now they’re learning how to bat longer, build innings, and develop the temperament needed for sustained success. So yes, the structure is evolving. With players like Alishan Sharafu already making an impact, I’m confident that in the next ILT20, you’ll see not one, but four players like Alishan, performing consistently and batting with maturity.With 220 runs in 10 matches for Alishan Sharafu and 10 wickets in as many games for Aayan Afzal Khan during ILT20 2025, how do you assess the growth and impact of these two emerging talents?I’ll talk about Alishan first — he’s been consistently performing. Whenever he’s got an opportunity, he’s made it count, often staying not out. That naturally boosts his confidence, and in cricket, confidence is everything. If you're confident, you can conquer anything. ILT20 has given players like him that platform to build belief through performance. The same goes for Aayan Afzal Khan. He’s a talented bowler — maybe not fully ready for the UAE national team just yet — but his development has been remarkable. He finished as the highest wicket-taker in ILT20, and now everyone is talking about him. That kind of exposure takes a player’s stature to the next level. So, when he eventually makes his UAE debut, people will already know his credentials — that he’s taken wickets against top international players. Remember, ILT20 teams include nine overseas professionals in the playing XI. Only two spots go to UAE players. So for them, it’s clear what level of performance and fitness is required to compete. Alishan and Aayan are not just performing — they’re doing it consistently, which is key for their growth and for the UAE team’s stability. Earlier, players would often throw their wickets away after scoring 40s and 50s. That mindset is changing now. We’re working on bringing that 'Khadoos' Mumbai-style attitude — where, if you’re set, you don’t give it away. Go big, aim for centuries. Consistency and fitness are now the focus. You need to be fit to last in ILT20, and that fitness is helping players bat longer and perform more consistently. That’s why we’re now seeing a stronger, more reliable pool of UAE talent emerging.

With world-class players participating in the ILT20, how valuable has the exposure been for UAE cricketers?It’s been a great exposure for our players. When they see stars like Kieron Pollard playing against them — someone known as a powerful striker — it raises their excitement and aspiration. Players like Phil Salt and several others who’ve represented their national teams also feature here, and that adds immense value. The presence of top cricketers from various countries — England, the West Indies, and others (except India) — elevates the standard of the ILT20, and naturally, our players get to learn from them. ILT20’s overall quality has improved, and that’s largely because of these international names. For UAE players, these cricketers become role models — they observe how they prepare, what they do right, and even get to interact with them. Those small conversations about batting or bowling can be full of valuable insights, which our players try to implement. Let me give you one example: earlier, our players mostly played T20s and T10s. In T20s, bowlers deliver four overs — typically two up front and two at the death — and that’s it. But in 50-over matches, it's different. Our fast bowlers used to perform well with the new ball in the first five overs, but in the final overs — after having fielded for 40-plus overs — they would give away 60 to 70 runs in the last five or six. Their bodies weren’t used to that level of endurance. For instance, a bowler clocking 130+ km/h early in the innings would drop to under 120 km/h in the death overs simply due to fatigue. Now, they’ve realized the importance of fitness. They’re hitting the gym, working on muscle strength, and improving their stamina — all lessons picked up from the ILT20 environment. So yes, the ILT20 has played a major role in improving our players — technically, mentally, and physically.

Can you take us through with some examples from the 'Khadoos brand of cricket'?I started red-ball cricket here — with the traditional white clothing and everything — to teach players the value of batting long and building innings. I told them, ‘You have to bat 90 overs.’ Their first reaction was disbelief — ‘Who’s going to bat for 90 overs?’ They just weren’t used to it. So I added a reward: anyone who manages to bat the full 90 overs would be considered for the national team camp. You won’t believe it — we played four games and I saw four or five players batting for 40 overs. That made me so happy. When a player was set and had batted long, I used to retire him just to give others a chance. For example, Zohaib Khan, a left-hander, was batting on 70 when I retired him. Then there was Tariq Ahmed, a young batter, who also got into the 70s. Alishan Sharafu batted beautifully and was well past 70 as well. So a lot of them took up the challenge seriously. The message I gave them was simple: if you’re set, don’t throw away your wicket. If you get out before 20 runs, I won’t say anything — that could just be a good ball. But if you’re on 30 or 40 and still get out, it likely means you're making a mistake — maybe a lapse in concentration or fatigue. That’s where fitness comes in. If you’re not physically strong, your legs get tired and your decision-making suffers. What’s encouraging is that this mindset is changing. Players are now developing that ‘khadoos’ attitude — the determination not to give their wicket away easily. I always tell them: value your wicket. Once you start doing that, you grow as a cricketer. We’re seeing progress, and we’ll keep building on it because cricket is a game of continuous improvement. Now we’re preparing for two major milestones. First, we’ve qualified for the Asia Cup after 10–15 years, which is a huge moment for UAE cricket. It’s a big opportunity for our players to compete against top teams like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Second, we’re in the final stage of T20 World Cup qualifiers — three of the nine teams will go through, and we’re working extremely hard to be one of them. And finally, we’re targeting qualification for the 2027 50-over World Cup. That’s one of our long-term goals. That’s also why I’ve revived red-ball cricket — so our players can learn to play long innings, improve their fitness, and develop the temperament needed for the longer formats. We’re laying the foundation now for future success.