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NZ captain scored 86 after Santner bagged 7 for 53, with visitors ending day two 301 runs ahead

Sidharth Monga25-Oct-20243:12

Why have India’s batters struggled in home Tests?

New Zealand 259 and 198 for 5 (Latham 86, Blundell 30*, Washington 4-56) lead India 156 (Jadeja 38, Santner 7-53, Phillips 2-26) by 301 runsNew Zealand took massive strides towards doing the unthinkable: not just their first Test series win in India, but also India’s first series defeat at home in 12 years. Mitchell Santner, who had never taken four wickets in an innings before this Test, and with just one first-class five-for to his name, tied India to the crease and took seven wickets to bowl India out for 156. The batters, led by Tom Latham, did some efficient front-running by attacking the Indian spinners to end the day with a lead of 301 runs with five wickets in hand.India have only twice overturned a lead of 100 to win a Test: the great Kolkata Test in 2000-01, and a successful chase of over 400 in Port-of-Spain in 1976, for long the highest in Test cricket. They found themselves in this situation because their legendary spinners were outbowled by two who came into the match with two first-class five-fors between them. Glenn Phillips was Santner’s partner in crime, taking out the two dangerous left-hand batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.Santner bowled unchanged through the day for 17.3 overs. Six of his victims were either bowled or lbw as he kept attacking the stumps with balls behaving differently from the same spot. This wasn’t quite the square turner that India lost their last Pune Test on – against Australia in 2016-17 – but there was enough turn and enough variation in turn to not allow India the ultra-aggressive approach they have employed this home season.Right from the first three balls of the day, the challenge for India was apparent. From the same spot, the first one turned lesser than expected, the second one went straight on but Shubman Gill survived the umpire’s call, and the third one turned big past the outside edge. There was not just turn, but also quick turn and natural variations from the surface.India had batting till No. 9, but on such pitches, the depth doesn’t mean much. So accurate was Santner that it took just 47 false shots to run through India. For the first half hour, though, New Zealand’s patience and belief was tested. Gill managed to start breaking free with a six off Tim Southee after charging at him. Yashasvi Jaiswal drove Southee for a four, before Ajaz Patel, the lead spinner on paper, offered him another half volley.Sweeps, reverse sweeps, and the use of feet were all employed by Tom Latham and co•AFP/Getty Images

But it turned around for New Zealand in the 22nd over of the day when Santner again beat Gill with one that went straight on. This time the umpire’s call went the bowler’s way. As the 15 seconds on the DRS timer lapsed, the crowd broke into a big cheer. For the arrival of Virat Kohli. The joy for them was short-lived as Kohli soon missed a full toss, which he tried to mow to square leg. The ball did drift in from the initial line, but it was still a full toss that Kohli would have dispatched almost every time had he played with a straighter bat.By now, the effect of the roller was wearing off. Batters were shanking even full balls – or those that they got close to – by using their feet. The ones that didn’t turn created further doubt. As it tends to happen at such times, fielders were everywhere: a hard sweep went straight into the shin of short leg, a short ball stopped and turned, and the pressure kept mounting.With two left-hand batters in the middle, Latham went to Phillips post the first drinks break. It took Phillips four balls to turn one and take Jaiswal’s edge to slip. Rishabh Pant, who had been kept quiet with in-out fields, then went to pull one that was only slightly short of a length. The ball stayed low and bowled him, drawing an inaudible invective that might end up hitting Pant in the wallet.Sarfaraz Khan, who had shown proficiency against spin in Bengaluru, soon found out that the margin for error was little in Pune. If you had to attack, you needed everything to go right. He tried to go inside-out to a really full ball, and it still spooned just over cover. His sweep was blocked, and brought him just singles. Eventually, he tried to the clear the deepish mid-off without getting to the pitch of the ball, a reminder of Phillips’ dismissal on day one. A shooter then did R Ashwin in, the first time Santner went past three wickets in a Test innings.Washington Sundar completed only his second ten-wicket match haul in first-class cricket•BCCI

India had lost 6 wickets for 53 runs, and so far ahead were New Zealand that they could afford to make a DRS error and have Ajaz bowl to two left-hand batters four overs for 32 runs. Meanwhile, Santner kept attacking the stumps and kept producing enough chances. Only some hitting from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar took India past 150.A lead of 103 here was a far worse scenario than the 356 in Bengaluru because this pitch was only going to get worse and India would have to bat last. Latham paddle-swept the first ball. A backward short leg came in to block that shot, and he cover-drove a boundary. Rohit Sharma was now just chasing the ball because you can’t react when you trail by so much on a turning pitch.The taking down of two of India’s greatest match-winners was clinical. Sweeps, reverse sweeps, and the use of feet were all employed. Ashwin’s first spell went for 33 in six overs, and Jadeja went for 24 in three. Washington, at the other end, kept picking up wickets. Devon Conway edged a sweep on to the pad, but didn’t review the lbw decision. So far ahead were New Zealand.Once they had got off to a start and the field had spread, Latham pitched his tent for a long innings while the others batted more briskly around him. Washington went on to convert his first-innings seven-for into only his second ten-wicket match haul in first-class cricket, but New Zealand found runs easier to come by at the other end. Latham missed out on a century, but he had brought New Zealand to a great position.

سجل جوليان الفاريز هدفين من الأهداف الخمسة التي احرزها أتلتيكو مدريد ضد ريال مدريد في ديربي مدريد، على ملعب واندا ميتروبوليتانو في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وجاء الهدف الأول الذي سجله جوليان ألفاريز في الشوط الثاني من ركلة جزاء، بينما جاء الهدف الثاني الذي أحرزه المهاجم الأرجنتيني الدولي من ركلة حرة مباشرة.

وأفادت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، أنه في البداية لم يشكل الخطأ مخالفة للقواعد أو ربما كان ذلك، ووفقاً لحساب “Archivo Var” عبر منصة “إكس”، فإنه كان من المفترض استخدام تقنية الفيديو المساعد في الركلة الحرة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ألفاريز: أردنا هزيمة ريال مدريد.. وكنا فعالين في الديربي 

وأوضح الحساب: “خطأ فادح من حكم الفيديو المساعد (الفار) في هدف جوليان ألفاريز من ركلة حرة قبل التسديد، حيث وقف لو نورماند بجانب الحائط متجاوزًا مسافة المتر المطلوبة، كان على حكم الفيديو المساعد التدخل وإبلاغ ألبيرولا روخاس بهذا الأمر”.

وقد أكد الحساب أيضاً أن ألبيرولا روخاس كان محقاً في القرارات التي ادعى ريال مدريد أنه كان يجب احتسابها وأوضح أن تدخل نيكو على كارفاخال الذي طلب ريال مدريد بسببه بطاقة حمراء كان بطاقة صفراء وليست حمراء.

MatériaMais Notícias

Um dos grandes vilões dos treinadores brasileiros, o calendário do futebol nacional foi novamente tema de insatisfação do técnico Abel Ferreira, do Palmeiras. Em entrevista coletiva concedida pelo treinador após a vitória da sua equipe por 2 a 1 sobre o Cuiabá, pela primeira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, Abel revelou que tem pedido ajuda à diretoria palmeirense para que a situação seja repensada.

Abel ressaltou o fato de ter sido campeão paulista no último domingo (9), mas não ter tido tempo ao menos de comemorar. Para o comandante do Alviverde, o ideal é que o tempo mínimo para os time entrarem em campo deveria ser de quatro dias, sendo três de recuperação.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel não entende expulsão na vitória do Palmeiras e desabafa: ‘Isso me tira a vontade de continuar aqui’Palmeiras15/04/2023PalmeirasNa ‘volta para casa’, Deyverson é homenageado pela torcida e diretoria do PalmeirasPalmeiras15/04/2023PalmeirasNo reencontro com Deyverson, Palmeiras vence o Cuiabá na estreia pelo BrasileirãoPalmeiras15/04/2023

+Flaco López brilha novamente em vitória do Palmeiras na estreia no Brasileirão

– Fico triste porque não dão, pelo menos, três dias (de recuperação). Pedi à direção para que ajudassem a ter um calendário. Só pedi três dias de descanso, para jogar no quarto. Que eles falem quando tiver reunião, falem com as televisões para ter 72 horas (de intervalo entre os jogos), jogo sempre às 4 (horas da tarde) – disse o técnico.

O comandante palmeirense destacou a importância disso para que não perca os jogadores com constância e, assim, o evento seja valorizado. O treinador citou a ausência do meia Raphael Veiga e do atacante Rony, recentemente convocados para a Seleção Brasileiro, mas que, entregues ao departamento médico, não estiveram em campo no triunfo deste fim de semana.

– Tem que sentar os clubes, as televisões, para não chegar aqui e não ter o Veiga, não ter o Rony. É isso que a televisão quer? Eu fico triste quando as pessoas falam que sempre foi assim. Essa é a parte que me custa – acrescentou o comandante palmeirense.

Contra o Cuiabá, o Palmeiras teve oito desfalques, sete deles por questões físicas. Além de Veiga, com uma lesão na coxa direita, e Rony, que se recupera de uma fratura no antebraço direito, o goleiro Vinicius Silvestre (mialgia coxa esquerda), o lateral Mayke (entorse no tornozelo direito), e o volante Atuesta (lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito), estavam entregues ao departamento médico. Piquerez e Bruno Tabata estão em processo de transição física.

continua após a publicidade

He matched Gujarat’s Urvil Patel for the fastest T20 hundred by an Indian

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2024

[File photo] Abhishek Sharma now has the most centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy•Associated Press

Abhishek Sharma has matched Urvil Patel for the second-fastest T20 century, reaching the landmark in 28 balls in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match for Punjab against Meghalaya. Urvil had got there last week, when he scored 113 not out in 35 balls for Gujarat against Tripura in the same tournament. The record belongs to Sahil Chauhan, who scored a 27-ball century for Estonia against Cyprus in June this year.This was also Abhishek’s fourth century in the tournament, making him No. 1 on that list, ahead of Unmukt Chand, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who have three each.Opening the batting in Punjab’s chase of Meghalaya’s 142 for 7 in Rajkot, Abhishek finished with 106 not out off 29 balls. Punjab got to their target in just 9.3 overs thanks mainly to Abhishek’s swashbuckling innings. The win was Punjab’s fifth in seven Group-A matches and the net-run-rate boost as a result of the speed of their win keeps them in the fray for progressing to the knockouts.Abhishek, who formed a destructive opening combination with Travis Head for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, was retained by the franchise ahead of the upcoming season for INR 14 crore (US$1.67 million approx.).Earlier in the day, Baroda broke the record for the highest team total in men’s T20 cricket when they posted 349 for 5 against Sikkim in Indore.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras derrotou o Corinthians por 2 a 1 na noite deste sábado (29), no Allianz Parque, pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na zona mista após o Dérbi, o meia Zé Rafael comentou sobre a desempenho do Verdão na partida, reconhecendo a queda de rendimento da equipe na segunda etapa.

> ATUAÇÕES: Em retorno “de gala”, Veiga é decisivo em vitória do Palmeiras no Dérbi pelo Brasileirão

A nossa equipe respeitou o adversário. A gente sentiu no segundo tempo um pouco de desgaste, porque o primeiro tempo foi muito intenso. O jogo estava de certa forma controlado, então a nossa equipe realmente acabou baixando um pouco a competitividade e acabou facilitando para o Corinthians em alguns momentos do jogo. A nossa equipe fez um grande jogo, poderia ter sido mais eficiente, o que facilitaria na sequência do jogo, mas paciência e parabéns a todos pelo grande jogo que a gente fez – disse Zé Rafael.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: Os melhores momentos da vitória do Palmeiras sobre o Corinthians pelo BrasileirãoVídeo29/04/2023CorinthiansATUAÇÕES: Róger Guedes e Paulinho são os melhores na derrota do Corinthians no DérbiCorinthians29/04/2023Fora de CampoAuxiliar do Palmeiras coloca fita na boca para protestar contra a arbitragemFora de Campo29/04/2023

-Nos preparamos sempre pra enfrentar um grande adversário. A gente sabe que do lado de lá tem jogadores com muita qualidade e eu acho que o fator casa às vezes é determinante para nós. A gente consegue novamente no Allianz fazer um jogo muito superior ao nosso adversário e a nossa equipe tem se preparado muito, tem sido muito forte mentalmente para que a gente consiga controlar alguns jogos e fazer prevalecer o nosso futebol.

Além disso, o camisa 8 destacou a importância do apoio da torcida palmeirense no clássico, que bateu recorde de público na história do Allianz Parque: 41.457 torcedores.

– A nossa torcida em casa é um fator muito importante para nós, a gente sente o apoio deles. No clássico, eu acho que é ainda maior a gente sentiu já desde o início do jogo que a nossa torcida ia apoiar justamente por ser um jogo que é um campeonato à parte. Para nós, é importante que a torcida entenda isso, que a gente sempre está dando o nosso melhor.

> Dudu celebra vitória do Palmeiras no Dérbi e elogia os garotos da base: ‘Já são realidade’

Zé Rafael também valorizou o trabalho intenso da equipe comandada por Abel Ferreira, dando ênfase para a preparação da mentalidade dos atletas.

– Trabalho firme, preparação intensa e mentalidade forte. A nossa equipe tem se preparado durante esses anos para que a gente possa fazer um ano consistente e regular, e continuar disputando os campeonatos. Enfrentar os nossos adversários em clássicos faz parte dessa rotina. Estamos sempre preparados para fazer um grande jogo, independente contra quem seja – concluiu o meia.

It wasn’t long ago that those of a Newcastle United persuasion were itching for something to happen in the summer transfer market, and rightly so at that.

Well, plotlines have been gathering apace on Tyneside over the past several weeks, but maybe not in the manner which the club or indeed the fanbase had anticipated.

Newcastle have missed out on a range of their top targets, and while Eddie Howe has welcomed Anthony Elanga to his squad for a £55m fee, it’s clear that much needs to happen over the coming weeks, with the Premier League campaign looming large.

With Alexander Isak brooding in the background and defensive targets such as Marc Guehi and Malick Thiaw appearing priorities for the Magpies, it’s easy to forget that Howe wants a new central midfielder, but that too remains one of the club’s most important transfer objectives.

Newcastle plan to sign central midfielder

Last month, Newcastle sold homegrown midfielder Sean Longstaff to newly-promoted Leeds United in a deal worth £12m. Longstaff, 27, played a bit-part role fro his boyhood club and only started eight Premier League matches last term, the last of which came a week into December.

More depth is needed in the engine room, though, and Aston Villa’s John McGinn has been earmarked as an alternative. Everton have already seen a bid knocked back this summer, and Unai Emery doesn’t want to part with his captain.

In which case, United might turn to Ajax talent Kenneth Taylor, with NUFCBlog revealing inside information that confirms Taylor has been added to the shortlist.

The 23-year-old Ajax midfielder has been valued at £25m, and was also the subject of a formal offer from Portuguese giants Porto last month.

Why Newcastle want Kenneth Taylor

Ajax left something to be desired in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, but Taylor confirmed the strength of the club’s revered academy once more, claiming the Player of the Season award after winning the Marco van Basten award the year prior, acknowledging the outfit’s most exciting up-and-coming talent.

Having graduated from the youth ranks and made his first team debut back in 2020 as an 18-year-old, Taylor has only gone from strength to strength over the past four years as a senior in his homeland, having made 165 appearances in total and earned his first five caps for the Netherlands.

Last term, though, he truly came into his own, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists for his teammates across 52 matches in all competitions, operating across the different areas of midfield.

Though McGinn would add some industriousness, energy and spirit to Howe’s project, Taylor’s Dutch verve and hunger to impress at the highest level could make him the perfect alternative, perhaps even a better signing, bringing a sharp potency in front of goal that might be needed, should the matchless Isak be playing in different colours over the looming campaign.

League Stats 24/25 – Bruno Guimaraes vs John McGinn

Stats (* per game)

Taylor

McGinn

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

34 (27)

Goals

9

1

Assists

6

4

Touches*

46.1

34.9

Pass completion

83%

87%

Big chances created

7

6

Key passes*

1.1

0.9

Dribbles*

0.4

0.6

Ball recoveries*

2.5

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

3.5

4.1

Data via Sofascore

As you can likely draw from the table above, Taylor is more of an able force in the final third than McGinn, placing an emphasis on pushing into dangerous positions and striking on goal.

Moreover, Taylor finished the 2024/25 campaign ranked among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for goals scored, the top 7% for through balls and the top 2% for goal-creating actions, with his energetic and forward-moving style leading data-driven site FBref to liken him to Newcastle’s Joelinton.

This exciting mix of strong athleticism and creativity is exactly what Newcastle need to complete their set in the middle of the park.

Though McGinn has a wealth of Premier League experience and is a natural-born leader, Howe has carefully wrought a dynamic and hardy engine room that could do with a touch of youthful exuberance to complement the commanding Bruno Guimaraes, the elegant Sandro Tonali, and, indeed, Joelinton’s raging intensity.

McGinn would be a credit to Newcastle’s team, to be sure, but it’s unlikely that he would nail down a starting berth from the outset, given the strength of the Magpies’ existing options.

Further, the 30-year-old earns £120k per week at Villa Park, and whether the Newcastle chiefs would feel it a prudent move to make a bid for such a player when they would play a utility and squad-rousing role is a pertinent question, especially as the Lions would expect to bank a figure in excess of £30m for their stalwart.

Taylor, however, would be content with joining the club and absorbing the fruits of his impressive midfield peers’ craft. He’s only 23 years old after all, and has plenty of mountainous heights left to scale before reaching the level that his skill set suggests is attainable.

While Howe will be determined to address the more prominent points of concern at St. James’ Park, signing a defender and a goalscoring forward, he will also be aware that the new campaign will bring the added expectation and intensity of a return to the Champions League.

With Longstaff gone, a player of Taylor’s playmaking and progressive quality could prove a certain success for the long-term stability of Howe’s project.

McGinn, of course, would be a shrewd and impactful signing, but in five year’s time, Taylor could be among the finest midfielders across the continent, whereas the Scotland international will be staring at his career twilight.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 7, 2025

أعلن النادي الأهلي، عن إصابة أحد لاعبي الفريق الأول للكرة، خلال مواجهة الزمالك، التي أقيمت ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وحقق الأهلي، الفوز على الزمالك بهدفين مقابل هدف مساء يوم الإثنين، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع | عماد النحاس يوضح حقيقة طلب زيزو المشاركة أمام الزمالك.. ويصرح: الفوز يُخفي الكثير من الأمور

وأوضح أحمد جاب الله، طبيب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، تفاصيل تعرض طاهر محمد طاهر، للإصابة خلال المباراة.

وأشار إلى أن اللاعب شعر بتقلصات في العضلتين الأماميتين وأن الشكوى من الآلآم كانت وراء استبداله خوفًا من تفاقم الإصابة.

وأكد أن طاهر سيخضع لفحص طبي من أجل الاطمئنان على إصابته وتحديد حجمها ووضع البرنامج المناسب له.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has called a Hoops transfer target “brilliant” ahead of their Champions League qualifier with Kairat Almaty.

Rodgers addresses Celtic transfers before Champions League qualifier

So far in the 2025 summer transfer window, those at Parkhead have signed seven new players and still have time for further incomings and outgoings ahead of the September 1 deadline.

It has been two weeks since their most recent arrival, 19-year-old Manchester City loan defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, and Rodgers is focused on getting past the Kazakh opposition with familiar players.

Celtic’s summer signings so far

From

Fee

Benjamin Nygren

FC Nordsjaelland

£2m

Shin Yamada

Kawasaki Frontale

£1.5m

Hayato Inamura

Albirex Niigata

£250,000

Kieran Tierney

Arsenal

Free

Ross Doohan

Aberdeen

Free

Callum Osmand

Fulham

Undisclosed

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

Man City

Loan

Rodgers was asked if he would get the signings he was looking for when the board discover whether they have Champions League income.

“I’m not going to get into a situation where I look frustrated or am frustrated because that transfers on to the players that I have, and those guys have been brilliant.

“If we get somebody in, great. If not, then we’ll go with what we’ve got. We’ll do everything we can to try and ensure all the details are right for the game and see if we can take Celtic back into the Champions League again.

“I’ve had no injuries and I believe that the quality of our game and the intensity that we want to work at can hopefully be enough to see us through. But these games will always be tough games.”

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Posts 1 ByDan Emery Aug 18, 2025 Rodgers responds to Vardy joining Celtic rumours

One player who has been linked with Celtic is free agent Jamie Vardy. The forward has his heart set on a move to Celtic Park after leaving Leicester City, and Rodgers called the forward “brilliant” when quizzed on a potential move.

Rodgers also wanted to ensure uncertainty over potential outgoing transfers also does not affect players.

“I mentioned this a few weeks ago to the players, I think it’s important to just set the narrative for them because there’s so much noise, especially as it ramps up towards the end.

“I’ve been in enough changing rooms to know how stability can be lost in this moment because some players will be thinking are they staying, are they going, but in the midst of that you’ve got really important games.

“So I’ve already mentioned this to players about respecting and acknowledging that it is a difficult part of the season, however, the money will be in your bank every month and it’ll be from Celtic and whilst it is, you need to perform. And in fairness to the players, they’ve been brilliant with that. You see it in their attitude in the game, the energy in the games.”

اعترف نجم نادي ريال مدريد، أنه كان يفكر بشكل جدي خلال الفترة الماضية في اعتزال كرة القدم، وذلك بعد إصابته القوية التي تعرض لها العام الماضي.

ريال مدريد يقدم موسمًا جيدًا حتى هذه اللحظة، حيث يحتل اللوس بلانكوس صدارة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى برصيد 21 نقطة، عقب مرور 8 جولات على بداية المسابقة.

ومن بين أهم اللاعبين في تشكيل ريال مدريد خلال هذا الموسم هو إيدير ميليتاو، والذي عاد من إصابته القوية التي كان يعاني منها على مستوى الرباط الصليبي بأفضل شكل ممكن.

ميليتاو حجز مكانًا أساسيًا في تشكيلة ريال مدريد من جديد، ويشكل الدولي البرازيلي ثنائية مميزة مع دين هويسن.

ويبدو أن ميليتاو كان يفكر بالفعل في اعتزال كرة القدم، خصوصًا أنه عانى للمرة الثانية من إصابة في الرباط الصليبي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد يعلن تشخيص إصابة هويسن.. ومدة الغياب

وقال ميليتاو في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو: “مع إصابتي الثانية في الرباط الصليبي راودتني أفكار كثيرة، فكرت في اعتزال كرة القدم لأن الأمر ليس سهلًا، ولكن بمساعدة زوجتي وابنتي وزملائي أنا هنا اليوم لألعب بشكل جيد”.

وأضاف ميليتاو في حديثه: “لقد كانا عامين صعبين مع إصابتين معقدتين للغاية، يواجه المرأ الإصابة الثانية بشكل مختلف لأنه يعرف طبيعة العمل والأمر ليس سهلًا، يجب أن يبقى المرأ قريبًا من عائلته، ومن الله”.

واختتم: ”هذا يلغي روتينه وما اعتاد عليه وهو التدريب، فجأة يجد نفسه في المنزل معتمدًا على الآخرين، الحمد لله تعافيت من الإصابتين وعدت إلى أفضل مستوياتي وهو أمر ليس سهلًا”.

Kotak has been head coach of several India A tours, and served as assistant coach to Laxman during the Ireland T20Is, and has been a batting coach at the NCA since 2019

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Jan-2025

Sitanshu Kotak was India men’s stand-in coach for the Ireland T20Is•Sportsfile/Getty Images

Former Saurashtra captain and batter Sitanshu Kotak is set to join the India men’s set-up as batting coach. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Kotak, who is 52, will start with the five-match home T20I series against England which starts from January 22.Kotak, who retired in 2013 after a first-class career spanning more than 20 years, has been the batting coach at the National Cricket Academy since 2019. Kotak also was the head coach of several India A tours and served as assistant coach to VVS Laxman when the latter helmed India’s white-ball bilateral engagements as head coach in the last few years.Kotak will be the fifth assistant on the coaching staff which is led by Gautam Gambhir, who took charge as the all-format head coach last August. At the time Gambhir brought in three assistant coaches: former South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel (bowling coach), along with former India and Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar and former Netherlands and Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. T Dilip, who was the fielding coach during Rahul Dravid’s tenure, was retained.Related

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The development comes soon after the BCCI conducted a review meeting in Mumbai last weekend to assess India’s disastrous run of series defeats starting with the white-ball loss in Sri Lanka, followed by an unprecedented 3-0 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand at home and then the 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The India batters’ plummeting form – and subsequent failures – was the key reason behind those defeats, and played a big role in the Test side missing out on a World Test Championship final berth. It is understood that batting was among the significant points discussed during the review meeting which included Gambhir, selection committee head Ajit Agarkar and many from BCCI’s top brass, including newly-appointed board secretary Devajit Saikia.