He played a memorable innings in 1979 against Asif Iqbal's Pakistan team in the 2nd Test at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. He was a member of the 1983 World Champion's team. For Test matches played in India, he has one of the highest batting averages.

Dilip Vengsarkar was awarded the Arjuna Award for his on-field performances in 1981, for his contribution to the Indian cricket the Government of India decorated him with the Padma Shri honour in 1987 and also was honoured with Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1987.

Dilip Vengsarkar was here in Kuwait to give a special cricket coaching camp organized by M3 event management in association with ProSports.

In an exclusive interview with IIK, Dilip Vengsarkar shares his experience on the cricket coaching camp which was conducted here in Kuwait at British School of Kuwait on 14th and 15th of September 2012.

IIK: It is the first time, a celebrity cricketer is coming here to polish the cricketing skills of people over here in Kuwait. How was the Camp?

Camp was excellent. It was for 2 days. It was short but was worth as there was talent in the young generation here in Kuwait. Students were enthusiastic and happy to be part of the camp. They did their best to their ability. There were around 50 participants out of which 15 to 20 were adults and all benefited from this camp.

IIK: What’s your feedback after the two days camp?

Everybody loves Cricket here. Infrastructure has to be created for cricket here.

You may have camps, net practices but whatever you learn I think it transforms in your performance. A performance can come through only if a proper infrastructure is present like having cricket matches, inter school matches, inter corporate matches, and inter club matches like what we have in India so that they can improve themselves. They have to learn the basics and here kids have the aptitude. They can turn out to be good Cricketers if they are given good platform.

IIK: Did you find any future cricketers here in Kuwait during the camp?

Yes, there are a few who have talent and can definitely be future cricketers.

IIK: How do you rate the players you met here in Kuwait with the players back home in India?

Here there is a lack of proper infrastructure for practising cricket. In India, every part of the country, we can see a good stadium for playing cricket. But in Kuwait I feel that the facilities are not enough. However you can practise with the available resource and daily practise will definitely be beneficial for the players.

IIK: How are students benefited from such coaching camps?

Coaching Camps not only benefits students or cricketers but even the coaches who are there. There are coaches who are in level 1 also. It is important that a coach from India come here and train the coaches also, so that it will help them to train youngsters. It’s important to impact the correct basics for students those who are young. Solid foundation definitely helps.

IIK: Coming back to the cricket, now the T20 version of cricket is getting more popularity. Do you think it will diminish the importance of one day cricket?

Every form of cricket is important and same is the T-20. One day cricket, Test cricket all forms play important role in cricket. T20 does not affect 1 Day cricket because it’s exciting and gets the crowds in and creates

money also. This money is then used to create grounds, create infrastructure, for associations etc.

IIK: There has been always a saying that cricket is overshadowing other sports in India. How do you feel about this?

How other sports administrators are marketing their game that’s important. There are athletics and other sports persons also. They have to market their game in a proper manner. Marketing of Cricket doesn’t affect the other sports. There is a room for all. It all depends on how other sports are marketing.

IIK: Your advice to the cricket fans in Kuwait, specially the readers of IIK...

Create good grounds, infrastructure so that the players will get platform to perform so that Cricket becomes popular in this country. There are a lot of talented young cricketers and if they get a platform to show their talent I am sure they will prosper.

Thank you for spending your valuable time with us.

Video of Dilip Vengsarkar Conducting Cricket coaching camp