Kirsten describes India job as real challenge

Newly appointed Indian cricket coach Gary Kirsten landed here on Friday for his first interaction with the players since taking up the high-profile job which he described as a "real challenge"।

The former South African opener, who accepted a two-year contract offered by the BCCI earlier this week, said he had played a lot of cricket in India but now that he was a part of the set up, he wanted to understand the Indian culture better।

"It's great to be back। I am looking forward to the work and am looking forward to meeting up with the guys. I've just come here to meet the players and really just to observe what they do," he told reporters at the airport.

The 40-year-old Kirsten, South Africa's batting mainstay during his playing days in the '90s, said he had not put any plan in place for the team yet।

"I m not putting any plans in place। I m just here to see how they play there cricket. I have played a lot of cricket against India but now I am a part of the set up, so now I need to see how they work and understand," he said.

The former South African player said it was a great honour to be associated with the Indian cricket।

"I am looking forward to it. It's a real challenge but it's a great honour too. I am looking forward to be a part of the Indian culture and specially from the cricket perspective how much the people love the game in this country.