India’s cricketing scene is buzzing with excitement after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following India’s defeat in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a review meeting was held by the BCCI. Captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar attended this meeting. During the discussion, the importance of Indian players participating in domestic cricket was emphasized. Now, the effects of this are starting to show.
After India’s whitewash on home soil against New Zealand and the defeat to Australia, the BCCI is considering adding a new member to the coaching staff, particularly a batting coach. While no official decision has been made yet, discussions between the BCCI and the team management highlight the need to strengthen the coaching team. Many names are now being considered for the position of batting coach for Team India.
According to a report from Times of India, the BCCI is considering appointing Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach after the recent Test defeats to New Zealand and Australia. Kotak, a former domestic cricket star and the current head coach of India A Team is being considered to strengthen the support staff ahead of the Champions Trophy in February. Meanwhile, renowned cricketer Kevin Pietersen has also shown interest in the role via Twitter.
Who Is Sitanshu Kotak?
Sitanshu Kotak’s cricketing journey has been nothing short of remarkable. As a left-handed batsman, he etched his name in the history of Saurashtra cricket by amassing an impressive 8,061 runs in 130 first-class matches, with an average of 41.76. His versatility extended beyond batting, as he also showcased his bowling prowess by taking 70 wickets for Saurashtra.
A Pioneering Coaching Career
Kotak’s brilliance didn’t end with his playing days; he transitioned seamlessly into a coaching role. He guided Saurashtra to victory in the 2020 Ranji Trophy final, solidifying his reputation as a shrewd strategist and mentor. His success as a coach earned him the prestigious role of head coach for the India A team, succeeding the legendary Rahul Dravid.
Kotak served as the head coach for India A during their tour of Australia in November 2023 and for the India team led by Jasprit Bumrah during a T20I series in Ireland in August 2023.
The BCCI considering to appoint Sitanshu Kotak as India’s batting coach. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/uHzCdM8Iua
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 16, 2025
Coaching Excellence After Retirement
Post-retirement, Kotak embraced full-time coaching, starting with Saurashtra and later becoming a batting coach at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. For the past four years, he has been consistently appointed by the BCCI as the head coach of India A, leading the team on tours to Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia. Additionally, he was the assistant coach for the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017.
Available!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 16, 2025
Kevin Pietersen also Shows Interest in Becoming India’s Batting Coach
Kevin Pietersen has shown interest in taking up the role of Team India’s batting coach. In a Twitter post by netizen Mufaddal Bhora, where he mentioned that the BCCI was exploring the possibility of adding a batting coach to India’s coaching staff, Pietersen replied, “Available!” The user then responded to the cricket legend saying, “We’re sorted then, KP. 😄❤️.”
In addition to this, Pietersen commented on several other posts from users discussing the availability of a batting coach. This interaction has since gone viral. It will now be interesting to see if Pietersen is considered by the BCCI for the role.
