Selection of support staff for Team India begins, Ravi Shastri insists on retaining Bharat Arun, R Sridhar

Selection of support staff for Team India begins, Ravi Shastri insists on retaining Bharat Arun, R Sridhar

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After the CAC panel confirmed Ravi Shastri’s reappointment as India head coach for the next two years, the BCCI selection committee has turned its attention to picking his assistants. It is understood that Shastri has stressed on retaining the bowling and fielding coaches respectively.

Among the incumbents for coaches in the three departments of the game, Bharat Arun (bowling) and R Sridhar (fielding) have emerged as strong favourites to retain their positions. Batting coach Sanjay Bangar’s position has come under intense scrutiny owing to the batting lineup’s collapses in the semi-final of the recently-concluded World Cup, and his inability to solve the middle-order problem even after two years.

Although ignored for the head coach’s position, Lalchand Rajput was among the aspirants appearing for interviews to the batting coach’s position on Monday. However, reports earlier had already suggested that former Test opener Vikram Rathour is a favourite for the spot among many of the big names in Indian cricket.

The process, led by national selection committee chief selector MSK Prasad, is expected to be completed only by Thursday after all the interviews for various positions including batting, bowling and fielding coach are done with. The three-member CAC panel who picked the head coach had also asked for a say in the process of selecting the selection process, but the BCCI constitution doesn’t allow that.

It was learnt that former India batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar and ex-Delhi batsman Mithun Manas also appeared for an interview before the five-member panel on Monday. Pravin Amre, Mumbai stalwart Amol Mazumdar, and Saurashtra’s Sitanshu Kotak are the other candidates for the batting coach's position. For the position of bowling coach, former India pacers Venkatesh Prasad, Paras Mbabrey, and Amit Bhandari appeared for the interview.

As per the criteria, the three personnel should have played at least 10 Tests or 25 ODIs and be less than 60 years of age. The process to choose the support staff will continue on Tuesday.

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