A ‘model’ coach for cricketers

A glance at the towering A Avinash, the assistant coach of Chepauk Super Gillies, itself gives a feeling that he could be more than just a coach. The Coimbatore-based Avinash’s tryst with sports is through athletics. “I am a national athlete in 110m hurdles. I represented the state in various nationals and senior nationals with many gold and silver medals to my credit,” Avinash says. 

It is in 2004 that cricket happened to Avinash. “I wasn’t getting good job offers, or we can say job offers that I wanted, through athletics. In 2004, I happened to play cricket and later when I played my first match for Chemplast, taking 11 wickets in a match, things changed. Cricket has become my bread and butter from then,” he says. While playing cricket, Avinash got offers for modelling. “I have been a model for almost 10 years now. I have appeared in more than 50 commercials on TV and print,” he said. 

Hatsun buttermilk, Lotto Choco-pie, Sri Kumaran textiles, Ashok Nandanavanam, Jayabharat Homes are some of the prominent ads he has worked on. “It is simple. Assignments start in the morning and end by evening. It is thrilling for me,” he says and adds “Modelling is my passion. I am being offered chances to venture into movies but it didn’t interest me.” 

Avinash couldn’t just stop with athletics and modelling. He has guided his former employer, Axis Bank, to cricketing glories. “I was working with them and coached them to finish third in all-India tournaments for two consecutive years,” he says. 

His appetite for more helped him to top the BCCI coaching exam and he is a certified level ‘A’ coach. “The coaching camp was an eye opener. We were trained on various aspects. I had a good time interacting with Bharat Arun (bowling), Lalchand Rajput (batting) and S Sridhar (fielding) sirs. I am happy to have come out with flying colours,” he adds.

Avinash has certainly been on the right road to be a role-model for all sportsmen.