In a significant decision to bolster India’s batting strength, former Saurashtra batsman Sitanshu Kotak has been appointed as the national team’s batting coach. The move comes in the wake of the limited-overs series against England, beginning January 22, and the ICC Champions Trophy next month. The appointment was made after serious concerns were raised over assistant coach Abhishek Nayar’s contribution during India’s recent tour of Australia, where the batting of the Indian team was most exposed.
Sitanshu Kotak: The Indian Domestic Cricket Veteran
Sitanshu Kotak is 52 years old. He is one of the prominent names in Indian domestic cricket.
Career: Sitanshu Kotak played 130 first-class matches, scoring more than 8,000 runs and scoring 15 centuries. He was known for his technical skill and dogged resistance at the crease. His hallmark shots were a flowing cover drive and a well-played flick shot.
Coaching Career: Kotak has been associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as a batting coach for many years. He has worked extensively with India’s senior and A teams, serving as a mentor during numerous tours.
Certifications: Kotak is a certified Level 3 coach and has assisted renowned names like VVS Laxman in nurturing young talents at the NCA.
Reasons Behind the Appointment
Underperformance in Australia:
India’s batting lineup underperformed during their recent tour of Australia, resulting in a 1-3 series defeat.
Prominent batters, including Virat Kohli, were struggling with recurring technical flaws, particularly against deliveries outside the off-stump.
Concerns Over Abhishek Nayar’s Role:
Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar’s coaching techniques were questioned after the series.
A senior BCCI official said, “Nayar’s experience is not benefiting the players. Kotak, on the other hand, has been a specialist batting coach for a long time and has gained the confidence of the players.”
Established Expertise of Kotak:
Kotak’s extensive playing and coaching experience along with his technical knowledge was the right man to tackle the batting problem of the team.
Important Tasks Ahead
India will immediately focus on the home series against England and the Champions Trophy.
Home Series Against England
The series starts from January 22, comprising five T20 Internationals and three ODIs. The expertise of Kotak will be crucial in helping Indian batters adapt to the bowling attack of England.
Champions Trophy:
The ICC Champions Trophy, a prestigious limited-overs tournament, will demand consistent performances from India’s batting lineup. Kotak’s role will be pivotal in preparing the players for this challenge.
Broader Implications of the Appointment
Educational and Mentorship Role:
Kotak has a history of mentoring young talents in the India A setup. His understanding of player psychology and technical needs will benefit the team.
Temporary Appointment:
Though his term may be temporary, given the away series in June against England, how well he does at those assignments would define his tenure in the set-up of coaching.
Taking a Stiffing Blow
For one, greater accountability in support staff was something Sunil Gavaskar was crying for after the series against Australia. He stated that technical errors within players must be corrected directly by the coaching team.
Composition of the Present Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Gautam Gambhir
Bowling Coach: Morne Morkel
Fielding Coach: Ryan ten Doeschate
Assistant Coach: Abhishek Nayar
Batting Coach: Sitanshu Kotak
Sitanshu Kotak appointment is a well-planned BCCI move for the rebuilding process of the batting of the national team. Sitanshu is an experienced one with technical skill and will have the ability to correct the batsmen’s error, which exposed in the latest matches. It will be really crucial for Sitanshu in the coming key assignments like the Champions Trophy where India will appear.
