New Batting Coach For Team India Ahead Of Champions Trophy?

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] January 16 : As per reports, former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak is being considered for the role of Team India’s batting coach. Kotak is currently working with India A, serving as the head coach of the team. He was also a part of the coaching entourage that went to Australia for two unofficial Tests against Australia A ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. 

Discussions are on

In the review meeting after the 1-3 loss in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, it was reported that a few guidelines will be implemented by the BCCI. The batting struggles in the series against New Zealand at home and Australia away were reportedly being discussed, which prompted BCCI to appoint a batting coach.

“Yes, Kotak’s name is being seriously discussed for the role of India’s batting coach, and it will start with the Champions Trophy in February. The BCCI is likely to make an official announcement in this regard,” a BCCI source told newspaper TOI.

Team India are without a batting coach since July 2024

After the contracts of Rahul Dravid and his coaching team ended post the 2024 ICC Mens T20 World Cup, Gautam Gambhir was at the helm and the former Team India opener has since then brought in his own team. Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate are currently a part of Gambhir’s coaching set-up, assuming the roles of assistant coach. With Kevin Pietersen throwing his name in the hat for the role of batting coach earlier today and now Kotak’s name being discussed, it will be interesting to see whom the BCCI go with for the role of the batting coach.

Sitanshu Kotak's amazing career

Sitanshu was born on 19 October 1972 in Rajkot, Gujarat. He has played first class cricket for Saurashtra state. The left hander batter has played from 1992 to 2013. In his amazing 21 years of cricketing career, he scored 8.061 runs in 130 first class matches. Sitanshu had an impressive average of 41.76. He scored 15 centuries and 55 half centuries. Kotak also took 70 wickets in his career.

After retiring in 2013, he ventured himself into coaching and has got success over the years. He was the head coach of Saurashtra team which won the 2020 Ranji Trophy. Then, he became he became the batting coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has coached the India A team on tours to Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia. Sitanshu has been part of Gujarat Lion’s coaching staff as he was assistant coach in 2017. He is rated very highly in domestic circuit so he can be the right answer to India's batting woes.