With youngsters already smitten by the new format, city coaches feel the Twenty20 bug now needs a remedy. Such has been the effect that recently during a three-day inter-school (U-15) Harris Shield cricket league match, Shardasharam Vidyamandir—the most famous nursery of batting in the city known for producing a host of international-class batsmen—were inexplicably bundled out for just 14 runs in their second innings.

Shardashram’s coach Naresh Churi says Twenty20 might be an entertaining form of cricket, but at the junior level, it is the biggest cause of worry for all coaches.

“We are suffering a lot because of Twenty20 cricket. The effect on every single child is such that he is going for big shots right from the first ball itself,” says Churi. Boys are reluctant to stay longer at the crease and work for their runs, he adds.

Things have taken such a turn, that the three-day matches of inter-school Harris Shield cricket tournament are finishing in two days; some were even in a day.

Churi points out; “Despite cautioning them repeatedly, children in the age-group 14-15 are trying to clear Shivaji Park ground. But can anybody clear Shivaji Park? It’s so big!”

“I seriously think if we hadn’t won the World Cup, this wouldn’t have happened,” he adds, a tad agitated.

Even Dinesh Lad, who coaches Swami Vivekanand International, Borivali and has coached T20 star Rohit Sharma, feels that it has changed the mindset of batsmen in school cricket.

“Earlier, players were prepared to stay at the crease for long and would think of big scores. Now, they think of scoring in quick time, which is not good for them. Sometimes they might get lucky scoring quickly, but as they progress it will be very tough,” warns Lad.

But for these coaches, the problem doubles after parents intervene. As Churi explains, “If a child plays a bold stroke or steps outside the crease to play a shot, there is immediate encouragement comparing him to a Twenty20 star. Sir, ha Robin Uthappa sarkhi batting karto (Sir, he bats like Robin Uthappa), they say.”

It’s not just the top cricket schools that are suffering. According to Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) cricket secretary H S Bhor, schools in plate group have given poorer accounts still.

“Can you believe, a 45-over match getting over in just one hour? We are talking about well-known cricketing schools. But go and see in plate groups, it’s worse. The matches get over in the first session itself,” Bhor remarks.

However, Lalchand Rajput, who was cricket manager of the Indian team in Twenty20 World Cup, feels coaches should look after these cricketers and make sure they do not lose their focus.

“The Twenty20 win was so big, that the fallout was inevitable. I feel it’s now up to the coaches to ensure that a school cricketer doesn’t lose his path on the way to technical perfection,” advises Rajput, hoping that youngsters don’t get sucked into the apparent dazzle of big shot-making.

Churi is tongue-in-cheek with his conclusion. “It’s easy for us to guide a child age between 11 to 13 years. But when it comes to 14 and 15, it’s difficult to convince them. Aai-babaanche aaiket naahit, tar aamche kaay aaiknaar (These children don’t even listen to their parents, so why will they listen to us (coaches)?” he adds.