And it's finally official. After much conjecture, of the kind only the Bengal press can whip up, it is finally out that former India opening bat WV Raman is indeed the new coach of the Bengal team. After Karsan Ghavri resigned from the post of coach of the Bengal team, Raman has been appointed to fill the vacancy. Having been contacted three weeks ago, Raman, who was always keen on the job, has sent official word to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), accepting the post. The delay said Raman was only on account of the fact that he had to iron out a few details with MRF, his employers.

The thirty-six-year old left hander told CricInfo over the telephone that "this was exactly the break I was looking for. I know it is going to be a challenge, but one that I welcome." What makes the posting all the more prestigious is the manner in which it happened. With the CAB approaching Raman and not vice-versa, Raman can surely say to himself that his training in Australia is paying off. A Level III coach from the Academy in Australia, Raman has had a chance to watch legendary Aussie fast bowler Dennis Lillee from close quarters at his regular camps at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.

Raman has been actively connected with the game even years after his retirement, as a television commentator and regular columnist with newspapers and websites, including CricInfo.com. The chance to coach a Ranji side however is a step up. "Personally I'd like to raise the level of intensity of the Bengal side. Having played against them a fair bit, I feel that they have a tendency to lose intensity after starting well. If I can get them to sustain their levels of intensity, I would be happy as I would have fulfilled my role and the team will benefit as well," said Raman.

On the fact that the Bengal team hardly boasts the big names, what with Sourav Ganguly almost never free to do domestic duty, Raman explained that the problem was not unique to Bengal. "Nowadays most Ranji teams do not enjoy the services of top Indian cricketers on a regular basis. We do however have youngsters who have shown potential and it's up to me to get them to raise the level of their game. Add to this the fact that Bengal has a few former India cricketers who played for the country quite recently and you have a handy mix," said an optimistic Raman.

A straight talking cricketer at all times, Raman has, over the years, perfected the art of saying exactly what he feels without ruffling the feathers of the powers that be. With former and current cricketers, the southpaw has never got into a major controversy and that surely could only have a positive impact on the chances of him landing a job of this kind. Often, the selection of a coach is contentious and the press has a field day. With Ghavri resigning citing personal reasons, the stage was set for just this. However, the transition has turned out to be a smooth one. Like many former cricketers, Raman is a keen golfer and just recently he spent a session playing golf with Ghavri when the CAB team came to Chennai to play the MRF Buchi Babu Memorial Tournament.

While the posting may not look terribly glamourous on the face of it, the timing could hardly have been better for Raman. In the recent elections of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kolkata supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya beat AC Muthiah to the top job in the BCCI. In the same elections, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar was appointed the head of the National Cricket Academy. And yes, the 'little-master' will have a keen eye on Bengal with his son Rohan Gavaskar doing the duties for the Eastern state.

For his style of batting, Raman has been dogged by phrases like 'laid-back' and 'lazy elegance' all his life. In his current avatar as coach of the Bengal team, so close to the power centre of Indian cricket, you can be sure that Raman will be anything but 'laid-back.'

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