Sitanshu Kotak, the domestic cricket stalwart, is set to join the Indian team as the batting coach ahead of their upcoming limited-overs series against England. This marks an exciting new chapter for Kotak, who has already built a strong coaching career following his retirement from domestic cricket in 2013.
The Indian team is gearing up to host England for a series that includes five T20Is and three ODIs, the first bilateral series after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The team is currently under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, with assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and fielding coach T Dilip.
According to a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kotak has been specifically asked to join the team for the England series, starting with the T20I matches.
Kotak’s extensive experience in domestic cricket makes him a valuable addition to the team. A former left-handed batter and the captain of Saurashtra, Kotak enjoyed a successful career in the first-class circuit, where he accumulated 8,061 runs in 130 matches, averaging 41.76.
His tally includes 15 centuries and 55 half-centuries, spanning from the 1992–93 season until his retirement in 2013. His leadership and consistency with the bat earned him recognition as one of the stalwarts of Indian domestic cricket.
After retiring from playing, Kotak transitioned into coaching. He began his coaching journey with Saurashtra before moving to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he served as a batting coach.
Kotak has also made significant contributions as the head coach of India A, overseeing tours to countries like Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Ireland.
His work with India A has been highly regarded, especially his guidance of young players like those on the Jasprit Bumrah-led T20I team during the tour of Ireland in 2023.
In addition to his national coaching duties, Kotak’s involvement with the now-defunct Gujarat Lions IPL team in 2017 as an assistant coach further enhanced his coaching credentials.
His vast experience, both as a player and a coach, makes him an ideal candidate to work with the Indian team’s batting unit.
With his wealth of knowledge, Kotak is expected to bring fresh insights and innovative techniques to the batting line-up, especially as the team prepares for a crucial series against a formidable England side.
His experience with young players in India A and his technical understanding of batting will likely make a significant impact on the team's preparations for the T20Is and ODIs.
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