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Former Saurashtra Captain Sitanshu Kotak Likely To Become India's Batting Coach

Anurag Dasgupta

Kotak likely to become new batting coach [Source: @Indiancric_/X.Com] Kotak likely to become new batting coach [Source: @Indiancric_/X.Com]

Former Saurashtra captain, Sitanshu Kotak is likely to be appointed as Team India's batting coach. The Indian batting lineup failed to deliver the goods in the New Zealand series and on the tour of Australia, and considering their recent failures, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is leaning towards appointing Kotak as the batting coach.

As per TOI, the current India A head coach,, Kotak is the front-runner to join Gautam Gambhir's support-staff. He was the India A head coach when the team played two unofficial Tests vs Australia, and was also the head coach of the Jasprit Bumrah led side when they toured Ireland in 2023. Kotak has closely worked with VVS Laxman during his tenure as India's interim coach and shares a great relation with players.

He will resume his coaching role from the upcoming England T20Is, which is slated to commence from January 22.

"Yes, Kotak's name is being seriously discussed for the role and it will start with the Champions Trophy in February. The BCCI is likely to make an official announcement in this regard. The batters have clearly struggled in the last few tours and there is a need to strengthen that," a BCCI official told TOI.

Who Is Sitanshu Kotak, the likely batting coach of India?

Kotak was a domestic stalwart, who captained Saurashtra and played 130 first-class matches. During the period, he amassed 8061 runs, at 41.06, including 15 centuries.

Post retirement, Kotak started his coaching tenure and was appointed the batting coach in National Cricket Academy (NCA). In the last few years, the BCCI has regularly poached him on foreign tours.

Currently, the Indian coaching staff includes Gautam Gambhir (head coach), Abhishek Nayyar (assistant coach), Ryan ten Doeschate assistant coach) and T Dilip (fielding coach. However, the BCCI feels that they need to strengthen the batting department and needs a specialist coach for that.