Speaking at the official jersey unveiling ceremony on Monday, Binny said, “The style of coaching has evolved. Coaches are now mentors and collaborators for players. I will encourage the Pagariya Strikers players to play freely without being concerned about the outcome.”
The Pagariya Strikers team finished as runners-up in the first season. After winning six consecutive matches, they faced defeat in the final. For VPL Season 2, scheduled from June 1 to 15, Stuart Binny will coach the men’s team, while Devika Palshikar will coach the women’s team. Both teams of the franchise will dedicate one match to cancer awareness for the National Cancer Institute.
Turning 42 this June, Binny is widely remembered by Indian cricket fans for his record-breaking performance of 6 wickets for 4 runs in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2014.
He further added, “Hard work is the key for any team to become champions. Even if positive results are not guaranteed, players must not lose courage. Practice hard and trust your preparation. Forget what happened last season and start afresh with new energy.”
We will fix the shortcomings: Pagariya
Earlier, the team’s jersey was unveiled in a vibrant ceremony. Team owner Ujjwal Pagariya said that the shortcomings from the previous season would be addressed under Binny’s guidance. Speaking about the loss in the final, he said, “Our batting was weak, and overconfidence cost us. The players fell victim to overconfidence, which led to the defeat in the final.”
Talking about the women’s team, he added that it was formed to provide equal opportunities alongside the men’s team and expressed confidence that they would deliver an impressive performance this season. The event was attended by dignitaries including Shailesh Jogalekar, VPL director Prashant Vaidya, Anil Parekh, Manish Challani, Shreyansh Pagariya, Dilip Ranka, along with players from both the men’s and women’s teams. The event was anchored by Riddhima Pathak.