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What Sitanshu Kotak brings to the table as India's batting coach

Ashok Kumar

Who is Team India's new batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, and what value does he add to Gautam Gambhir's coaching unit?


Who is India's new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak | Walking Wicket (Images_ ©Twitter_X)
Sitanshu Kotak joins as India's batting coach (Images: ©Twitter/X)

India's recent batting struggles have led the BCCI to appoint Sitanshu Kotak as the team's batting coach. The former Saurashtra batter amassed over 10,000 runs in domestic cricket but never represented India at the international level. 


After retiring in 2013, Kotak transitioned into coaching, guiding Saurashtra to the Ranji Trophy title in 2020. Since 2019, he has served as the batting coach at the National Cricket Academy and has also assisted VVS Laxman during India’s white-ball series in recent years. Kotak’s first assignment as India’s batting coach will be the upcoming T20I series at home against England.


What potential benefits could Kotak bring to the team as a batting coach?

Kotak’s appointment is a necessity

Considering India’s recent batting performances, both at home and abroad, where they fell short of expectations, Kotak’s appointment as the batting coach seems like a step in the right direction. 


India batters have struggled in spin-friendly conditions at home, leading to a 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand. They also lost a 1-3 Test series against Australia, marking their first series defeat Down Under in over a decade. 


Clearly, the team needed a batting coach to address the weaknesses evident across all conditions. With Kotak’s extensive experience as a batter and batting coach, he is well-equipped to help rectify the current challenges plaguing India’s batting lineup.



Kotak’s experience as batter would be useful

Although Kotak never represented India at the international level, he enjoyed a two-decade-long domestic career, amassing over 10,000 runs across First-Class and List A formats combined. He also had a brief stint in county cricket with Warwickshire. His achievements as a batter could serve as a valuable resource for India’s batters to learn from and refine their game. 


Kotak scored 8,061 runs at an average of 41.76, with 15 centuries and 55 fifties in 130 First-Class matches. Additionally, he amassed 3,083 runs at an average of 42.33, with three centuries and 26 fifties in 89 List A games.


Successful coaching legacy

Kotak holds Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certifications from the BCCI and the Wales Cricket Board. With over a decade of coaching experience, he is well-equipped to address and rectify the flaws that have crept into India’s batting. 


His time at the National Cricket Academy, coaching India A players, and briefly being part of India’s limited-overs set-up, provide him with the insight needed to elevate India’s batters from their current struggles to the pinnacle of success. Additionally, having led Saurashtra to the Ranji Trophy title in 2020, Kotak brings a winning mindset that he can instill in India’s batting unit.


Familiarity with T20 cricket

Kotak will begin his tenure as India’s batting coach with the T20I series against England at home. Despite his success in First-Class and List A cricket, he has also played nine T20 matches. 


Additionally, he served as an assistant coach for the Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016, working closely with players like Suresh Raina and Brendon McCullum. Having experienced the demands of all formats, Kotak is well-prepared to excel in his role as India’s batting coach.


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