Follow UsGautam Gambhir’s coaching team as India’s all-format head coach is set to be expanded as former Saurashtra batter and long-time associate with National Cricket Academy (NCA), Sitanshu Kotak is likely to join him as batting coach.
There has so far been no official confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but it is being largely speculated in the media that Kotak, who played 130 first-class matches between 1992 and 2013, would join the bandwagon led by Gambhir ahead of India's next assignment.
So far, Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Ryan ten Doeschate (assistant coach) and T Dilip (fielding coach) are part of head coach Gambhir’s team.
Since there is a vacancy for a specialist batting coach, Kotak, who scored 8,061 runs at an average of 41.77 with 15 first-class hundreds to his name, will fill in that position.
“We have learned that Kotak, who is 52, will start with the five-match home T20I series against England which starts from January 22,” ESPNcricinfo said in one of its reports.
It has come to light that the BCCI held a review meeting after India's back-to-back Test series losses (0-3 to New Zealand at home and 1-3 to Australia away), in which their batting failed miserably.
It was only after that meeting, attended by Gambhir, selection committee head Ajit Agarkar and BCCI officials, including newly appointed Secretary Devjit Saikia, that the appointment of Kotak in the role was finalised.
Kotak has previously toured with several India A teams and served as an assistant to India teams coached by VVS Laxman when regular coaches such as Rahul Dravid and even Gambhir (for the South Africa T20I tour) were not available.