National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches Sitanshu Kotak and Sairaj Bahutule are likely to be part of the VVS Laxman-led coaching staff for India’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. While there hasn’t been an official word from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the coaching staff for the Zimbabwe series, it is understood that there is no option but to send NCA coaches for the five T20Is starting in Harare on July 6.
Both Kotak and Bahutule have been part of India, India A and India U-19 coaching groups in the past, and spent a lot of time with most players in the squad during the High Performance Camp for targeted players at the NCA.
Rahul Dravid’s contract extension ends with the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign and formalities with the new coach are unlikely to be completed by the time Shubman Gill-led unit leaves for Zimbabwe on July 1. BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviewed Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman for the head coach position, and the former is the favourite to replace Dravid.
Even after Gambhir’s likely announcement, the support staff needs to be finalised and it remains to be seen whether the Indian Cricket Board floats an advertisement for that. The head coach is heard when it comes to appointing the support staff and it’s likely to be no different this time around too.
Any movement on the coaching front is expected only after India’s campaign ends in the T20 World Cup. The men who matter in the Indian cricket board don’t want any distractions during the campaign
“Whatever will happen, will happen after the World Cup. No point in having any distractions when the tournament is going on. Right now, all our attention should be on the team in the Caribbean and hope they end the wait for the ICC trophy,” says a senior board official.
Dube replaces Reddy
In another development, all-rounder Shivam Dube has replaced injured Nitish Reddy for the Zimbabwe series. While the BCCI didn’t mention the nature of the injury, it is learnt that he has a groin strain.
“The Men’s Selection Committee named Shivam Dube as a replacement for the injured Nitish Reddy in India’s squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Nitish Reddy’s progress,” read a BCCI release.
India’s updated squad: Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube.
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