India Appoints New Batting Coach, “Abhishek Nayar’s Approach Falls Short”: Senior BCCI Official Comments on Gautam Gambhir’s Recommendation
Appointments
Sitanshu Kotak appointed India’s batting coach, replaces Abhishek Nayar amid criticism
Former Saurashtra cricketer Sitanshu Kotak was on Thursday appointed as India’s batting coach ahead of the limited-over series against England and the Champions Trophy scheduled for next month. His appointment comes amid criticism over assistant coach Abhishek Nayar’s poor performance during the recent India tour of Australia.
A stalwart at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Kotak, 52, has worked as a batting coach and had accompanied both the senior and A teams on multiple tours.
A senior BCCI official, speaking anonymously to PTI, said, “It’s clear that Abhishek Nayar’s methods aren’t yielding the desired results. Kotak, with his vast experience as a specialist batting coach, has gained the confidence of the players.”
India’s batting woes in Australia highlighted technical deficiencies, with Virat Kohli’s recurring struggles outside the off-stump drawing particular concern. India lost the five-match series 1-3, which further fueled calls for a change in the coaching setup.
Kotak had a outstanding domestic career with over 8,000 first-class runs and 15 centuries in 130 matches. Kotak was known for his cover drives and flicks off his pads, and was described as a stubborn left-handed bat.
Kotak might be a temporary appointment as the away series against England is still months away in June. India’s home series against England begins on January 22, with five T20Is and three ODIs.
“Kotak has considerable experience working with the A team and is a Level 3-certified coach. He had coached VVS Laxman previously and had also been in-charge of being the head coach when India went to Ireland last year. Since he is associated with the NCA, he can be dispatched anywhere. End.
Meanwhile, Nayar’s future with the team is under scrutiny. Speculation suggests his tenure might only last as long as a certain senior player, who influenced his appointment, remains part of the Indian setup.
During the Australian series, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar raised questions about the Indian support staff’s accountability, citing recurring technical flaws among players like Kohli.
India’s support staff currently comprises former South African pacer Morne Morkel (bowling coach) and Dutch cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate (fielding coach).Sitanshu Kotak Appointed as India’s Batting Coach, Replaces Abhishek Nayar Amid Criticism
Former Saurashtra cricketer Sitanshu Kotak was appointed India’s batting coach on Thursday, ahead of the limited-overs series against England and the Champions Trophy scheduled for next month. This decision comes after Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach, faced criticism for his underwhelming performance during India’s recent tour of Australia.
Aged 52, Kotak has been a regular face at the National Cricket Academy. He has been batting coach at NCA and had been traveling with both the senior and A teams on several tours over the years.
It’s very obvious that the techniques being followed by Abhishek Nayar aren’t bringing any good. Kotak has gained the confidence of the boys being a specialist batting coach with his experience of several years.” – A senior BCCI official speaking anonymously to PTI.
India’s batting, especially against Australia, showed its technical weakness with Virat Kohli failing on the offside, particularly against the away swingers. The Indians lost the series 1-3 and hence added fuel to calls for a change in the coaching setup.
Kotak enjoyed a very stellar domestic career. He accumulated more than 8,000 runs in first-class cricket and made 15 centuries in 130 matches. Renowned for his cover drives and flicks off his pads, Kotak was a determined left-handed batsman.
The appointment might be a temporary one, given that the away series against England is still months away in June. However, India’s home series against England begins on January 22, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs.
“Kotak has rich experience working with the A team and is a Level 3 certified coach. He has assisted VVS Laxman in the past and even served as the head coach during India’s tour of Ireland last year. Being part of the NCA, he can be deployed wherever needed,” the official added.
Meanwhile, Nayar’s future with the team is also in question. Speculation goes that his tenure might be only for as long as a certain senior player, who influenced his appointment, stays on in the Indian setup.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also questioned the accountability of the Indian support staff while speaking about the Australian series. He said technical flaws keep rearing their head among players like Kohli.
India’s support staff comprises former South African pacer Morne Morkel (bowling coach) and Dutch cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate (fielding coach).
