OCA working committee appoints Rashmi Parida as new head coach of Odisha senior team

OCA working committee appoints Rashmi Parida as new head coach of Odisha senior team

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By Chiranjibi Pati , SportsCafe Editor

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The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) working committee has appointed Rashmi Ranjan Parida and Kulamani Parida respectively as the head coach and selector of the senior Odisha team. Yesterday, Debasish Mohanty was appointed as an India U-19 selector by the Committee of Administrators.

After Mohanty was appointed as a selector in the National Junior Selection Committee, OCA has decided to give the responsibility of the senior men’s team to Rashmi Ranjan Parida. Rashmi, who previously held the position of Odisha batting coach, was so far working as a selector in the State senior selection committee. Now, after Rashmi’s selection as the head coach of the team, former Railways’ off-spinner Kulamani Parida has been chosen as a member of the selection committee.

Rashmi has an experience of 139 first-class matches for Odisha, Rajasthan, Assam, Vidarbha and Himachal Pradesh. He last played for Himachal in 2014-15 Ranji season and played a crucial role in Rajasthan’s Ranji victory in 2011. For his half-centuries in both the innings of the final, he was awarded Man of the Match as well. The Bhubaneswar-born batsman has scored 8317 runs at an average of 42.21 in first-class cricket which includes 16 tons along with 51 fifties. In List A, Rashmi has amassed 2063 runs in 6 games.  

On the other hand, with more than 100 first-class matches and 320 wickets, Kulamani brings in a lot of experience into the selection committee. Although, he hasn’t played for Odisha at the senior level, but has been around the system after calling it a day for the Indian Railways side in 2010. Making his debut in 1996, Kulamani formed a deadly spin bowling pair for the Railways along with former India international Murali Kartik. The offie had announced retirement after his bowling action was deemed suspect in two consecutive seasons. 

“It is a new responsibility for me and I am looking forward to get involved in the system of team selection. The main focus will be on the youngsters from under 23 and under 19 level and also on the performance of the players from the previous season. This year it’s going to be a long Ranji season and I hope the team will do well under new coach Rashmi Ranjan,” Kulamani told SportsCafe.

Odisha went with former international opener Shiv Sundar Das as their head coach in the previous domestic cricket season but after the team's disastrous performance had re-appointed Mohanty as the head coach. 

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