New Delhi, Sep 25 Former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya was on Friday reappointed head coach of the Delhi Ranji Trophy team as the DDCA named 48 coaches, mentors and High Performance Centre staff, with several former players and their sons also finding assignments in the appointments.
There were 22 coaches (head coach, assistant coach, bowling and fielding separate) appointed from senior men to U-14s while the number is 18 across various women’s team.
There are two ‘state mentors’ in Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma for ‘men’ and former India keeper Deep Dasgupta’s childhood coach Suneeta Sharma in ‘Women’ category.
The Delhi head coach’s job was a two-way fight between Dahiya, under whom Delhi had last won the Ranji Trophy as well as Vijay Hazare Trophy and Rajkumar.
“Dahiya was a clear favourite because he has been a top level coach and has had success. Once Dahiya was made coach, there was pressure from one of the factions of DDCA to create a post for Rajkumar also. Hence the post of ‘state mentor’ was created.
“Don’t ask me what his role is. Can he interfere in Dahiya’s domain or suggest names of players? We will only know when season starts,” a senior office-bearer told PTI.
There were some bizarre appointments in Dahiya’s support staff of coaches.
Khsitiz Sharma, always a controversial selection when he played for Delhi, has been inducted as assistant batting coach while there are two fast bowling coaches — Sanjeev Sharma and Parvinder Awana along with fielding coach Kuldeep Rawat.
Asked why two fast bowling coaches for a single team, the official’s reply was no less surprising.
“Two factions had two names. Sanjeev’s name was pushed by one and Awana by the other. Now since Khsitiz’s appointment became non-negotiable, we had to appoint Sanjeev, who might have to also work with batters,” he said.
IPL franchise’s academy coach comes with recommendation ====================================
An IPL franchise owning company, which also run a junior cricket academy, pushed for appointment of one of its coaches and had to be “obliged” in one of the age-group teams.
Father and son both get coaching assignments
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Former India batter Gursharan Singh, an ever-present feature in DDCA’s coaching set-up — whether as coach or selector in last two decades — is back again and this time as High Performance Batting coach for ‘Men’.
Another former cricketer Bantoo Singh has been appointed ‘High Performance Coach’ for women this time.
Interestingly, Gursharan’s son Swapandeep Singh has been named head coach of women’s U-19 side.
“Look they are in different sides. While there were some questions whether two people from same family can be employed but since there is no conflict of interest, it was okayed,” the office bearer said, defending the decision.
1983 World Cup winner’s son inducted
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Former India Test player and 1983 World Cup hero Madan Lal’s son Kunal Lal has also got an appointment as U-19 assistant fielding coach.
Kunal, who played a handful of games two decades back, used to be a left-arm slow medium bowler.
“I can’t exactly confirm whether Kunal has a BCCI Level 1 or 2 coaching degree or not. In case of Swapandeep, he has coaching degree.”
Asked why so many coaches have been appointed and what is the purpose of having two bowling coaches, assistant coach and assistant batting coach in some categories, he didn’t have an answer.
There is a Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) headlined by former India spinner Sarandeep Singh and two others who are in charge of recommending appointments.
It is not known why so many coaching appointments were approved.
(PTI News)
