Farokh Engineer, Sanjay Bangar

Former India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar has denied the reports of him having an argument with selector Devang Gandhi after being snubbed as the coach of the Indian cricket team. A few days back, a report had suggested that Bangar barged into Devang’s room to confront him after being dropped as the coach.

Also Read: Senior players deny travelling to Pakistan for limited-overs series

“It is fictitious. I had a cordial exchange with him three days after the selection process was over. It was related to my presentation. There was no heated argument,” Bangar told Sportstar.

Read More: There Is A Bit Of Dale Steyn In Pat Cummins – Ricky Ponting

A report later had suggested that BCCI might question Bangar for whatever happened in West Indies only if head coach Ravi Shastri or team manager Sunil Subramaniam bring it up.

Read More  Hanuma Vihari replies to Andhra Cricket Association's summon

Sanjay Bangar

The former India all-rounder was interviewed by the five-member selection panel during the process. He came second to Vikram Rathour, who has been appointed as team India’s batting coach.

Before the start of the process, Bangar was the sole candidate in the coaching panel who wasn’t the favourite to keep his position and as it turned out to be, he did not retain his position.

Bangar, further, said that he was happy to leave the team with a strong middle-order in Test cricket. “I am happy to leave with a team that boasts of a strong middle order in Test matches. There is depth in batting now due to regular contributions from the wicket-keeper and the lower order. We need to strengthen our openers, especially in overseas conditions. There is little to worry on the bowling front. We have a rich collection there,” he said.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma should open in Tests – Gautam Gambhir

Bangar had joined team India’s coaching staff during the tour of England in 2014. Under him, team India’s batsmen did well across formats but his inability to find a suitable number four batsman was one of the reasons that would have gone against him.

'It's fictitious' - Former India Coach Sanjay Bangar Denies Having Confrontation With Selector After Snub
Image: BCCI

From 2015 to 2017, team India was without a regular number four batsmen. The comeback of Yuvraj Singh did solve the issue for seven months but once he was dropped, team India again found it difficult to get a regular number four batsman.

Read More: ICC World Cup 2019: Jofra Archer Becomes England’s Leading Wicket-Taker In Single Edition

In Bangar’s final series, Shreyas Iyer batted at that position and also impressed with twin half-centuries. He is expected to be given a longer rope than other batsmen got.

Read More  Watch: Hardik Pandya pushes away Lasith Malinga as Sri Lanka legend tries to hug Mumbai skipper

Meanwhile, the BCCI will soon hand fresh contracts to the likes of Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar. Rathour will handed a new contract since he is coming in for the first time.

The contracts of the members of the support staff will run till 2021 T20 World Cup that will be played in India.