Published: Jul 02, 2016, 11:08 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 02, 2016, 03:54 PM (IST)
Sulakshan Kulkarni has been roped in as coach of Chhattisgarh, who are on the verge of making debut in Ranji Trophy 2016. Kulkarni, former wicketkeeper-batsman of Mumbai, coached Vidarbha from 2009-2011 before taking over the reins of Mumbai from 2011 to 2014. Mumbai clinched their 40th Ranji Trophy title under him in the 2012-13 season, when they beat Saurashtra in a one-sided final at the Wankhede Stadium. Known for his doughty and dedicated approach, the onus will be on him when Chhattisgarh embark on their journey in the Ranji Trophy, later in the year. He will be looking forward to start from scratch with a new team as well. ALSO READ:Harbhajan backs concept of neutral venues for Ranji Trophy matches
According to cricbuzz.com, “I am happy to be back in the Ranji Trophy again as a coach. I will enjoy helping develop a team like Chhattisgarh, which would play in the Ranji Trophy for the first time”, told Kulkarni. “We had received applications from many coaches, some of whom are former players. Kulkarni has a good track record with Vidarbha and Mumbai, and our committee felt he would be the ideal man to coach our boys, who are talented, but need his guidance and `polishing’ since they lack experience at the Ranji level. We want to do well in our maiden Ranji appearance,” said Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSTS) secretary Rajesh Dave.
Kulkarni would take charge of his new ‘wards’ with the launch of a camp of 30 ‘probables’ in Raipur. The captain of the team has not been named as yet. “It would have been nice if the people of Chhattisgarh were able to see their team play in the Ranji Trophy for the first time, but then we can understand that the Board’s decision to play the Ranji on neutral venues this season is good for domestic cricket,” felt Dave.
Chhattisgarh, whose teams had been doing well in the Under-23, U-19 and U-16 tournaments for the past few years, was promoted to `Full Membership’ from `associate’ by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in February’s Special General Meeting this year. “Six players from Chhattisgarh, including Jalaj Saxena and Harpeet Singh Bhatia, represent the Madhya Pradesh team, since it plays in the Elite division, but a few of them have come back to us because we’ll be playing in the Ranji from this season onwards,” said Dave.
Chhattisgarh has been plagued by Naxal problems in the past, and cricket, Dave felt, may help in solving it.”We want to attract the youth towards cricket, so that they do not get distracted by such things. Currently, we have eight grounds capable of hosting First Class cricket in the state, apart from the stadium in Raipur”, he concluded.
