Chappell's Aggressive Coaching Style Backfired in India, Reveals Irfan Pathan

According to former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, Greg Chappell, who served as India's head coach from May 2005 to March 2007, could have been one of the country's greatest cricket coaches if he had adapted to the local culture. However, Pathan reveals that Chappell's overly aggressive approach backfired and created a feeling of insecurity within the dressing room.

Chappell's controversial tenure included a major conflict with then-captain Sourav Ganguly. Pathan recently recalled how Chappell's ruthless communication style, where he would constantly threaten players with being dropped if they didn't perform, was not well-received by the team. Pathan says he confronted Chappell about this and urged him to change his approach, which the coach acknowledged was too aggressive.

Pathan believes that if Chappell had adapted to the Indian culture and been more mindful of his communication, he could have been one of the best coaches the country has ever had. Instead, Chappell's tenure ended with India's heartbreaking group-stage exit at the 2007 ODI World Cup.

Pathan also revealed that legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar had the potential to become a great captain for India, but he didn't get a good team when he was first appointed as the captain. Pathan suggests that Tendulkar could have been a fantastic leader, and India missed out on that opportunity.