BCCI turns to Sitanshu Kotak to save Indian Cricket after Gautam Gambhir & Co.'s disastrous run

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to add a new member to the coaching staff of the India National Cricket Team. As per the reports in the Times of India, it is learned that Sitanshu Kotak is all set to be appointed as the new batting coach of the team.

This comes after the India National Cricket Team batters struggled to get going in the Test cricket of late. The senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have failed to go big and have been getting out in a similar way. While on the other hand, youngsters have given away their wickets against the run of play.

Sitanshu Kotak has emerged as the prime candidate to take over the batting coach role

Following the team's poor performances in the Tests of late, there have been reports that claimed that BCCI is considering appointing a new batting coach. Amid all this, Sitanshu Kotak has emerged as the prime candidate to take over the role and join the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff.

Kotak has been among the best coaches in Indian cricket. The domestic stalwart is currently the head coach of the India A team and even has been playing the part of the main side whenever the coaching staff has been rested. He was the head coach of India A for their tour to Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Sitanshu Kotak was also the head coach of the India National Cricket Team when, under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, they played the T20I series against Ireland. He also traveled with the team for the five-match T20I series against the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team after the T20 World Cup 2024.

Kotak's name is being seriously discussed for the role of India's batting coach, and it will start with the Champions Trophy in February - BCCI source

A source close to the BCCI revealed the India National Cricket Team is looking to add Sitanshu Kotak as a batting coach, and his stint will start with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He revealed that an official announcement will be made soon as the governing body feels there's a need to strengthen the support staff. Speaking to the Times of India, he explained:

"Yes, Kotak's name is being seriously discussed for the role of India's batting coach, and it will start with the Champions Trophy in February. The BCCI is likely to make an official announcement in this regard.

"Most of our batsmen [batters], including the seniors, have struggled badly in the last two series. There's a need to strengthen the support staff of the Indian men's cricket team from the batting point of view."

Sitanshu Kotak has been a domestic stalwart

Sitanshu Kotak captained Saurashtra in the domestic cricket and played from the 1992-93 season to 2013. He scored 8061 runs in 130 first-class matches at an average of 41.76, with 15 hundreds and 55 fifties. He also has a fair amount of coaching experience, as he was part of the coaching staff for the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017.

If he becomes the batting coach of the India National Cricket Team, Sitanshu Kotak will be joining Gautam Gambhir (head coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach), Ryan ten Doeschate (assistant coach) and T Dilip (fielding coach).

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