Gary Stead, jo 2018 se Black Caps ke head coach rahe aur unhone team ko inaugural ICC World Test Championship jeetaya, ab apna safar khatam kar rahe hain. Unki jagah Rob Walter, jo South Africa ke white-ball coach rahe, ko all-formats head coach banaya gaya hai. Yeh khabar kuch fans ke liye thodi si chinta wali hai, kyunki Walter ka international coaching record mixed hai, aur kuch log soch rahe hain ki kya woh Stead jaisa jadoo chala payenge, jinhone team ko teen white-ball finals tak pahunchaya tha. South Africa ke saath unka recent performance, jaise 2024 T20 World Cup final tak jana, shandaar tha, lekin ODI series mein Pakistan ke haathon ghar mein harni bhi fans ke dimaag mein hai.
Lekin chaliye, thodi der ke liye negative soch ko side rakhte hain aur dekhte hain ki Rob Walter kya laa sakte hain. 49 saal ke Walter ek experienced coach hain, jinhone South Africa ke white-ball teams ko 2023 ODI World Cup aur 2025 Champions Trophy ke semi-finals tak, aur 2024 T20 World Cup ke final tak pahunchaya. Yeh koi chhoti baat nahi hai—South Africa ne unke under ek exciting aur aggressive brand of cricket khela, jaise 2023 World Cup mein Quinton de Kock aur Aiden Markram ke explosive batting performances. Walter ka New Zealand domestic cricket mein bhi accha record hai; unhone Otago Volts aur Central Stags ko coach kiya aur Otago ko do finals tak le gaye. Unka yeh local experience unhe Black Caps ke players, jaise Kane Williamson aur Trent Boult, ke saath jaldi connect karne mein madad karega, jo already world-class talent hain. NZC ke chief executive Scott Weenink ne bhi Walter ki tareef ki, unhe “world-class coach with outstanding pedigree” kaha. Walter ka contract 2028 T20 World Cup tak hai, aur isme teen major ICC tournaments, including 2027 World Cup, shamil hain, jo unhe apni capability dikhane ka pura mauka dega.
Walter ka approach pragmatic hai, jaise unhone franchise T20 leagues ke saath player availability ke mudde par baat ki. Yeh ek bada challenge hai, jaise South Africa ke saath unhone dekha jab unhe 2024 mein New Zealand ke khilaaf ek kamzor Test squad bhejni padi thi. Lekin unka yeh experience unhe Black Caps ke liye ek balanced strategy banane mein madad karega, jahan players jaise Devon Conway aur Rachin Ravindra jaise T20 leagues aur international cricket ke beech balance bana sakte hain. Unka personal touch bhi unke favor mein hai—Walter ka parivaar New Zealand mein based hai, aur yeh wapas aana unke liye ek ghar wapsi jaisa hai, jo unhe emotionally invested rakhega.
Lekin, sab kuch itna asaan nahi hai. Walter ke saamne bade challenges hain. New Zealand cricket abhi ek transition phase mein hai, aur players ke T20 leagues mein badhte involvement se team consistency ek bada mudda hai. Stead ke time mein, New Zealand ne 2019 ODI World Cup final aur 2021 T20 World Cup final jaise memorable moments diye, lekin abhi team ka recent performance thoda up-down raha hai. Walter ko yeh ensure karna hoga ki players ka commitment international cricket ke liye bana rahe, warna woh South Africa ke saath wali situation repeat ho sakti hai, jahan star players jaise Kagiso Rabada kabhi-kabhi unavailable rahe. Aur, kuch fans ke dil mein yeh bhi chinta hai ki kya Walter Test cricket mein utna hi effective honge, kyunki unka zyada experience white-ball formats mein hai. Kya woh Black Caps ko dobara usi tarah se ek united aur dominant force bana payenge? Yeh toh waqt hi batayega.
