The Chappell Way (B): A Case Study in Team Building and Group Dynamics

In addition, his alleged clandestine leaks to the media about individual team members had also undermined team spirit, they said. By and large, Chappell's critics felt that he lacked the people skills and human touch that were so necessary for a coach to succeed. There was also a feeling that Chappell was much too interested in preserving his own power equation in the team. Former Indian captain and coach Ajit Wadekar, said, "He (a coach) should command respect and not demand it." However, there were many others who were of the opinion that Chappell could not be totally blamed for the debacle. They felt that Chappell had tried to do the right things but had become a victim of a system that was plagued by star culture rather than team culture.

India's debacle and the controversies during Chappell's era also kicked off a debate on the merits and demerits of a foreign coach vis-à-vis an Indian one. While some believed that cultural differences posed a major problem for a foreign coach, others felt that foreign coaches were technologically better equipped and free from regional bias. Some experts felt that nationality should not be the criterion for choosing a coach as a good coach would adjust to the culture of the players and get the most out of them. However, some felt that it would be self-defeating to get a foreign coach and expect him to adjust to the Indian culture and the Indian way, as the very reason for hiring him would have been to bring about a radical change in the Indian team. Some experts also pointed out that great players seldom went on to become good coaches.