In July, on his first day in charge as Chhattisgarhs head coach, Sulakshan Kulkarni was asked to give a motivational speech to the probables selected for a camp ahead of the states Ranji Trophy debut. The former Mumbai wicketkeeper, who had been a part of six winning teams, adopted a unique method.He brought with him from Mumbai a replica of the Ranji Trophy and placed it on the table next to him. Is it a trophy you won for being the best coach? someone in the group asked him just before he began. That is when it struck me that I was with a state that didnt have a cricketing tradition, and that we needed to build one, Kulkarni told ESPNcricinfo.I replied: This is what you will be playing for. Come one by one, feel it, take photos, selfies, whatever. Post it on social media - Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, wherever. One day, we will win this trophy. Thats the privilege you all have after 16 years of struggle. Make it worth it. Imagine the feeling of holding this together as a group. You will understand that only when you win. There was silence. The motivational speech ended there.On Saturday, the group led by Mohammad Kaif became the first side since Punjab, in 1968-69, to win their first Ranji Trophy match, when they outclassed Tripura by nine wickets in Ranchi. Once victory had been sealed, the team remembered their coachs words. As well as they had begun, though, Kulkarni was quick to remind the group that bigger battles lay ahead.****A man with a sharp eye for talent, Kulkarni remembers being spellbound by the teams belief at an Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy game against Mumbai in Mumbai in 2014. Chhattisgarh almost beat them, he says. They dared to declare to have a chance of an outright win. I was watching from the stands; the attitude excited me immensely. That they lost is a different issue, but they showed intent. That told you they had something. So when this opportunity came up [to coach Chhattisgarh] my mind went back to that.Upon assuming his duties, one of the first things he needed to do was prepare a plan to get the side game-ready in less than three months. Kulkarni, in no uncertain terms, told the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh to organise matches. I wanted to identify a core group of 20-22 players before the season, Kulkarni says. And I wanted to get in at least six to ten matches.The side played in the All-India Invitational Buchi Babu tournament in August in Chennai, where they beat more accomplished sides from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh in matches played in a two-day format. It was there that I first saw their ability to play on rank turners, especially against the hosts, Kulkarni says. Amandeep Khares 193 against UP, according to the coach, infused self-belief into the batting unit. Chhattisgarh finished runners-up.Then at the Bapuna Cup, a tournament featuring four-day games organised by the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur in September, the side got a taste of playing on flat surfaces. The bowlers delivered, the batsmen piled on the runs and they emerged champions in the four-team tournament. I think thats where the boys were pushed hard with the ball, the same qualities they showed here [in their Ranji Trophy opener], Kaif, the captain, says. They learnt to make things happen when there was nothing.In their final league game against Himachal Pradesh at the Bapuna Cup, Chhattisgarh had the option of batting out for a draw, which would have given them the trophy. At 400 for 4 with little over a day left, Kaif and Kulkarni decided to push for an outright result. They blasted 97 in the next hour to declare. Next day we bowled them out and chased down 30-odd to win, Kulkarni says, pointing to Kaifs leadership as the driving force.The idea, according to him, was to have the team get a feel of an outright win. Kaif led the side superbly, he handled all the bowlers well and thats where his experience had a telling effect, Kulkarni says. It showed in our first game [at the Ranji Trophy] too.He elaborated on an incident to show the value of having an aggressive captain. [Himachals] Robin Bist, at this level, is a superb player. Against a quality player, you need a quality attack or a great captain. In the second innings of that Nagpur game, the ball was reversing, so Kaif had three fielders on the leg side - short mid-on, short midwicket and short square leg.He told the bowler to stick to his normal line and not try to reverse. He kept bringing it in and then got one away, which the batsman edged to the keeper. After the match, even Bist came up to us and acknowledged the plan. You have won half your battle if you can plot and execute plans like that. So hes a bowlers captain.Im not worried about the runs he makes; he can make a zero, but his contribution in bringing the best out of ten players is worth more than just his personal contribution. He gives you variety as a captain, which will augur well for this team. Hes that sort of a person. A good captain can make bowlers better than they are.****At training and off the field, theres a clear demarcation in the roles played by the captain and coach. Kaif, the senior-pro and domestic veteran, is the man-manager, motivator and elder brother who chills with the boys. Kaif says he wasnt ready to coach full-time because he believed he could contribute as a player, just like he did in Andhra after his decade-and-a-half journey with Uttar Pradesh. Dealing with a young group eager to prove themselves, according to him, was the biggest motivation.At this stage of my career, I wanted to give back to the game, he says. I wanted to groom a set of players who can move up. I wasnt ready for a coaching opportunity alone though. If I wanted to just score runs and take slip catches, I could have opted to do that. But I wanted to interact with younger players, guide them and share my experiences. Thats what excited me about the Chhattisgarh role.Kaif is outspoken about his objectives. When I was coming through in Uttar Pradesh, you were recognised as someones brother or someones relative or son, he says. People didnt have their own identity. Even if they did, there was someone to always pull you down. So there was a senior-junior divide, because seniors were often insecure if they saw a talented youngster. Here, I want everyone to know I am around at any time. They can talk to me freely without the fear of saying something wrong. Basically, they should speak up and not be shy.I was shy too as an 18-year-old. It affected me when I played for India. Maybe I didnt make the effort to mingle freely with seniors like Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly outside the field. So I want these players, many of whom are in a professional set up for the first time, to be comfortable. So we often have team dinners, get-togethers and team activities to understand the group. Theyre a lot more comfortable now than they were two months ago.Kulkarni adds: Its easier mingling with these boys and talking to them because there are no ego battles. Thats because everyone is starting off at the same level. Unlike other sides, where those who have played for India may or may not gel with the group, everyone is hungry for success, so coaching is a lot simpler. You cant sink further from the basement. You can only climb with this sort of an approach.****Mentoring aside, Kulkarni deals with specifics: batting, slip catching, fielding, flat throws, and video analysis. At each session, players are asked to identify what they could have done better, what they did right and wrong. At the end, the coach has his say. Its a ritual that is limited not just to the playing squad, but to the entire set of probables, some of whom might come into the XI at different stages this season. Its important to have a feeder system, Kulkarni says. This is one way of building it. Players outside the group need to know they belong too. Ask Kulkarni and Kaif who theyve been most impressed with, and both of them hardly bat an eyelid. Khare is the unanimous choice. Amandeep Khare is like a gem, Kulkarni says. After Rahane and Pujara, I havent seen a more talented batsman at the Under-19 level than this guy. I would rate him more promising than these two when they were his age. Also Ashutosh Singh is very talented. He reminds me of Karun Nair. He is solid, technically correct and reliable.What are the worries then? The bowling, Kaif points out. It is not surprising. In their build-up to the season, the batsmen produced 11 centuries. The bowlers could manage just four five-wicket hauls across both preparatory tournaments leading into the Ranji Trophy. But we have identified how many bowlers weve got, and how to tackle issues like resting bowlers since we will be playing without a break for nine rounds. We have had the winning momentum right from our preparatory tournaments, so the boys are happy.Kulkarni adds: We have formed a core group with five-six pacers and three spinners, who we plan to rotate based on performance and fitness. It will be important to monitor workloads. In Ranji, the bowlers need more rest than the batsmen. We have 20 boys; we will take it one game at a time.Both of them agree, the key to the long season ahead will be to maintain their intensity and play a positive brand of cricket, considering they will have to fight with nine other sides for two quarter-final spots, unlike in Groups A and B where three out of nine sides qualify. But, as Kaif says: Teams cant take us lightly, weve shown that. Cheap Jerseys .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. NFL Jerseys Cheap . PAUL, Minn. http://www.cheapnfljerseyssale.net/ . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. NFL Jerseys Outlet . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Wholesale China Jerseys . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray joined in the celebrations -- if not the matches -- as defending Davis Cup champion Britain beat Serbia 3-2 Sunday to set up a semifinal against Argentina, which handed Italy its first home loss in the tournament in seven years.Croatia rallied for a comeback 3-2 victory over the United States, with Borna Coric beating Jack Sock 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match in Portland, Oregon to set up a semifinal against France.Marin Cilic set up the deciding fifth match by beating John Isner 7-6 (9), 6-3, 6-4 in the first reverse singles match on Sunday after combining with Ivan Dodig on Saturday for a win over twins Bob and Mike Bryan in doubles to keep Croatia alive in the contest after the Americans swept the opening singles matches.Croatia Croatia reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009. It won its only Davis Cup title in 2005.The U.S. lost for the fourth time in 161 tries when leading 2-0 lead in a Davis Cup tie.On a wet and windy day at the outdoor Tasmajdan clay-court stadium in Belgrade, Kyle Edmunds 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against Dusan Lajovic in the reverse singles gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead against host Serbia.The 21-year-old Edmund also won his opening singles on Friday against Janko Tipsarevic as he assumed the role of leader of the team because Murray was on the sidelines.Murray decided not to play in the quarterfinals a few days after his second Wimbledon title but was there to support the team.Edmund was the highest-ranked player in the two teams at No. 67. Serbia played without top-ranked Novak Djokovic and the countrys No. 2 Viktor Troicki.Federico Delbonis avenged his first-round defeat at Wimbledon when he beat Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in an entertaining 3 1/2 hours, helping Argentina to win its quarterfinal 3-1 and advance to its 11th semifinal in 14 years.dddddddddddd The last reverse singles match was scrapped.The first two sets took a similar pattern: Delbonis broke early, Fognini rallied to level and Delbonis broke back to clinch each set at Circolo Tennis Baratof in Pesaro, Italy.They swapped places in the third set. Fognini went up early, Delbonis came back to even terms, and Fognini, despite some racket throwing, broke back and held on.In a dramatic fourth, Delbonis errors had him down 5-3 before breaking serve at love for 5-4. Fognini had four set points on Delbonis serve in the next game, but the Argentine saved them all and made it 5-5. Fognini conceded a third straight game, and gave Delbonis a chance to serve it out, which he took on his third match point.The Argentines celebrated on the outdoor clay court, and will take a 3-1 record against Britain when they travel for their Sept. 16-18 semifinal.Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame an early scare to win the opening reverse singles to give France a 3-1 victory over host Czech Republic at Werk Arena in Trinec.Amid increased security following the deadly attack in the French city of Nice, Tsonga rallied to beat Jiri Vesely 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-5 and earn a spot in the Davis Cup semis for France for the second time in three years.Wimbledon doubles champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert had beaten Lukas Rosol and Radek Stepanek 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday to give France a 2-1 lead. On Friday, Rosol beat Tsonga in a five-setter, and Lucas Pouille made a victorious Davis Cup debut by beating Vesely in straight sets.France has nine Davis Cup titles, but it last won in 2001. The French will have to travel for the semifinal against Croatia. Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '