The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly appointed former Saurashtra player Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach for the Indian team ahead of the limited-overs series against England and the Champions Trophy next month. This decision seems to have come after assistant coach Abhishek Nayar faced criticism due to India's poor batting display during the recent tour of Australia.

BCCI didn't bring in a dedicated batting coach under Gautam Gambhir, so Nayar, who has been with the team since last year, took on the responsibility for the batters. Unfortunately, the Indian batting lineup struggled technically during the home series against New Zealand and in Australia, leading to significant backlash, particularly from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who pointed out the support staff's accountability for the ongoing issues faced by players like Virat Kohli.

According to a PTI report, Nayar, a former Mumbai player, is now under the spotlight following India's disappointing performances in those series. The report also mentioned that Nayar's position in the coaching setup might only last as long as a senior player, who influenced his hiring, remains in the team. However, the identity of that player wasn't disclosed.

What led to Sitanshu Kotak's appointment?

The 52-year-old has been a fixture at the National Cricket Academy as the batting coach for quite some time. Over the past four years, he also took on the role of India A coach, with his latest gig being the tour of Australia.

With some uncertainty about Nayar's effectiveness, the BCCI has decided to bring in Kotak, who has earned the players' trust, to join the coaching team.

"Clearly, Abhishek Nayar's skills aren't benefiting the players. Kotak has been a dedicated batting coach for a long time and has gained the players' confidence," a senior BCCI official shared with PTI, wishing to remain anonymous.

It seems this might be a temporary appointment since the away series against England isn't until June. Kotak's first task will be the five-match T20I series at home against England, kicking off on January 22.

"We have an India A shadow tour coming up, and Kotak usually takes charge of the A team. He’s a certified Level 3 coach, has worked alongside VVS Laxman before, and was the head coach during India’s tour of Ireland last year. Being part of the NCA staff, he can be assigned to various roles," the source mentioned.

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