New Delhi:
The new members of the Cricket Advisory Committee, tasked with selecting the next head coach of the men's Indian cricket team has been appointed. Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper, former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad and the first captain of the Indian women's team, Shantha Rangaswamy, are the members. The deadline for filing applications for the post of the head coach and support staff for the Indian cricket team is July 30.
Incidentally, Kapil, Gaekwad and Rangaswamy were at the helm of the Cricket Advisory Committee when the BCCI invited fresh invitations for the post of India women’s cricket coach following the fall-out between Mithali Raj and Ramesh Powar after the end of the World T20 in 2018 in West Indies. There were notable names who had applied, including Gary Kirsten, who helped India win the World Cup after 28 years in 2011. Along with Kirsten, the other names in the list were Atul Bedade, David Johnson, Rakesh Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar, Owais Shah, Herschelle Gibbs, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Dominic Thornely, Gargi Banerjee, Vidyuth Jaisimha, Ramesh Powar, Colin Siller and Dav Whatmore.
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According to reports, India's current bowling coach Bharat Arun is likely to retain his position even if there are multiple candidates while R Sridhar will have his nose ahead despite South African star Jonty Rhodes throwing his hat in the ring for the fielding coach's position. But batting coach Sanjay Bangar might find it difficult to retain his position when the national selectors pick the support staff for the Indian team. All three have gotten extensions along with head coach Ravi Shastri till the end of the West Indies tour.
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"In the last 18 to 20 months, the work put in by Arun has been phenomenal. The current Indian attack is considered to be the best in the longest format. Mohammed Shami back at his best and (Jasprit) Bumrah's consistency is a few things Arun must get credit for. It's up to the selectors but they might find it difficult to replace him," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
The BCCI has invited fresh application for the support staff and head coach. Soham Desai, who has been working with National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, is currently in West Indies assisting India A side. He is supposedly set to join the men's team in Florida and the Indian team will prepare for first of three T20 Internationals.
Basu and physio Patrick Farhart have left the side after the World Cup. Both are being flooded with offers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. It is understood that Basu may return to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with whom he was associated with previously. It is also known that the duo was offered an extension by the BCCI, but both had denied the offer.
