CHENNAI: The BCCI is likely to name assistants to chief coach Anil Kumble in a couple of days. Pravin Amre is frontrunner for batting coach, with current selector Vikram Rathour also in the reckoning.
The BCCI has indicated the new coach will be allowed to pick his own support staff, like Ravi Shastri chose Sanjay Bangar, Bharathi Arun and R Sridhar. Sources indicated Sridhar is in contention, with Abhay Sharma, who accompanied the side to Zimbabwe recently. The board has asked Kumble if he wants a bowling coach. One understands former pacer Shane Bond is on Kumble’s radar. The Kiwi has been Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach and worked closely with Kumble. Bond helped New Zealand develop a young crop during his stint as bowling coach.
All eyes will be on the batting coach. It’s learnt the cricket advisory committee of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman has pushed for Amre. The former India batsman is one of the most sought after batting coaches in the country. Many like Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma have sought his inputs. He has also been Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy coach apart from being part of the coaching staff at Delhi Daredevils.
Rathour, on the other hand, coached Punjab in Ranji Trophy before being named selector in 2012. When the CAC interviewed candidates for the head coach’s position, he wasn’t invited. But he shares good relations with some top BCCI officials.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com