In calm Gary Kirsten, Namibia find ‘human touch’

NEW DELHI: Namibia’s training session on the eve of their T20 World Cup opener against the Netherlands here followed a familiar script of cones laid out, throwdowns hurled and drives clipped into the outfield. Yet, standing slightly apart from the bustle, arms folded and eyes following every movement, was a figure whose presence carried quiet authority. Gary Kirsten doesn’t wear the Namibian colours but his imprint on this squad is already unmistakable.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kirsten, the former India head coach and South Africa opener, has joined Namibia as a consultant for the T20 World Cup. It is a role that suits him: low on noise, high on influence. For a team still navigating the thin line between associate ambition and elite-level consistency, Kirsten’s arrival offers reassurance and edge. Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus is clear about what Kirsten brings. There is, first, the obvious pedigree. Kirsten has toured the subcontinent extensively as a player, coached in the IPL and most memorably guided the India team under MS Dhoni to the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph.“He (Kirsten) has lots of experience. He brings a winning edge to our campaign. He also brings lots of knowledge of the different grounds in India,” Erasmus said.Besides trophies, what seems to resonate far more with this Namibian group is how Kirsten goes about his work. Erasmus hinted that the influence is subtle but deeply felt. “It’s very nice in terms of management that you have such pedigreed mentor-cumcoaches who really like to bring the human side to their coaching first and they really like to connect with the players at a deeper level,” Erasmus said.For a side like Namibia, where players often balance cricketing dreams with semi-professional realities, a player-first approach carries even greater weight.“That’s what (having a playerfirst approach) we respect most about Gary and all the other coaches. Cricket is very much conditions based and it’s awesome to have him,” the 30-year-old Namibian captain said.