Son's challenge spurred TN U-19 coach to push his limits

CHENNAI: When Tamil Nadu finally ended their 33-year drought to lift the Cooch Behar Trophy, the players were lauded for their grit and skill. But in the shadows of their success stood a man who built the foundation for this glory – head coach M Shanmugam.

At 53, Shanmugam is no stranger to cricket. A former fast bowler and now a seasoned coach, he has spent over three decades being associated with the game. Yet, what brought him to the TN U-19 coaching role wasn’t an ambition or second chance – it was a challenge thrown his way by none other than his son.

“Last year, my younger son Karthik (Manikandan) captained the U-19 team, and they lost in the semifinals. I was watching the knockout match as a parent, and I was baffled by some of the decisions. After the game, while I was discussing it with my son, he said, ‘You keep talking so much, why don’t you take up the job?’ That hit me hard. I knew I had to prove it and show it to him,” Shanmugam told TOI.

Stepping into the U-19 coaching role, Shanmugam saw it as a chance to restore Tamil Nadu’s pride and rise to his son’s challenge. A hard taskmaster, he set the tone from day one in the camp. Mobile phones were banned, curfews enforced, and lights had to be out by 9pm.

“They’re all my son’s age, so I treat them like my son. But I don’t hesitate to push them hard. I’m very strict. People even say I’m like Chandrakant Pandit. I’m tough. I believe once discipline is there, everything else will fall into place,” said Shanmugam, who coached Nellai Royal Kings in the TNPL 2022 season.

For all his meticulous planning and disciplined approach, Shanmugam remains grounded. He said that it was the players’ belief and execution that turned his vision into reality. “It was really a tough and long six-month journey. Full credit goes to my boys. They just believed me and followed whatever I said.”

Shanmugam’s own cricketing journey has been as dynamic as his coaching philosophy. Starting out as a promising fast bowler, he was the first player to be handpicked by Australian legend Dennis Lillee during a talent camp in Chennai. Representing Tamil Nadu at the junior level, he quickly made a name for himself with his pace. But as age caught up, he seamlessly transitioned to off-spin bowling, extending his playing days before finally retiring just five years ago.

Coaching, however, proved to be his true calling. Over the past two decades, Shanmugam has worn many hats – mentor, selector and coach. His first coaching assignment, almost 20 years ago, was with Tamil Nadu’s U-22 team, which included a young R Ashwin. A few years after coaching the junior teams, he worked as a bowling coach at the TNCA Academy, guiding pacers and spinners – his longest and final stint before taking over the Tamil Nadu U-19 team.