Ask the coach

Darren Lehmann and Tom Moody, head coaches for Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad, talk about their first love, and everything beyond it. A tête-à-tête with the hard taskmasters, who make sure their players sweat it out in the sun and deliver the goods on field.

As the India domestic league begins, cricket fans in the country rivet their eyes on the players, watching their every move on field.

HT Image

The teams’ coaches, understandably, stay out of sight, carefully watching their teams’ work. We get Darren Lehmann and Tom Moody, the head coaches of Kings XI Punjab and the newly inducted Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively, to share their off-field quirks, likes and dislikes with HT City.

A tête-à-tête with the hard taskmasters, who make sure their players sweat it out in the sun and deliver the goods on field.

Non-cricket passions

Darren: I like to spend time with my family
Tom: Playing golf, drinking wine and watching films.
Best way to celebrate a victory
Darren: I prefer celebrating with a cold beer and a team song
Tom: It’s always nice sharing success with the on and off field team with a quiet beer.
Which player would they bet their money on?
Both: Sir Vivian Richards
Favourite Bollywood stars
Darren: Preity Zinta
Tom: Salman Khan all the way
If not a cricket coach…
Darren: I’d have been a golfer
Tom: A businessman
Favourite Sunday activity
Darren: Drinking beer by the pool
Tom: Reading newspapers with a good coffee

First love remains cricket

The 6-ft 7-inch tall Hyderabad team’s coach, Tom, loves the ‘contest’ between a bat and a ball in cricket. His most memorable cricket moment is 1999 Cricket World Cup and he works out for 40 to 60 minutes, five times a week.