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India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, and his entire support staff are set to take a well-deserved break following the conclusion of the cricket tour in the West Indies. The Indian cricket team is currently engaged in an exhaustive all-format tour in the Caribbean, which comprises two Test matches, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This comprehensive tour is scheduled to culminate on August 13 with the final T20I fixture set to take place in Lauderhill, Florida.
New head coach for the T20I series against Ireland
During this interim period of rest for the coaching staff, the responsibility of leading the team will now fall to Sitanshu Kotak. He will act as the interim head coach for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland. Kotak, a former cricketer from the Saurashtra region, has been an integral part of the coaching setup at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). For the past few years, he has been serving as the head coach for India A, a developmental cricket team that plays at the domestic level.
Initially, VVS Laxman, the head of the NCA, was intended to accompany the Indian team to Ireland. However, due to his involvement in overseeing a camp for emerging talents at the NCA in Bengaluru, Laxman will remain back in India, thus necessitating the temporary coaching arrangement.
Following their break, Dravid and his team of support staff will rejoin the squad to begin preparations for the Asia Cup 2023. After the completion of the continental tournament, the Indian cricket team is scheduled to host Australia for a three-match ODI series. Subsequently, India will participate in the highly anticipated ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held on home soil.
Bumrah to captain the Indian side in the absence of senior players
Turning to the Ireland tour, India is slated to play three T20I matches in Dublin on August 18, 20, and 23. This particular tour holds significant importance as it marks the return of Jasprit Bumrah to competitive cricket. Bumrah, one of India’s premier fast bowlers, has been sidelined due to a recurring back injury for nearly a year. His return to the playing field will be crucial as he seeks to regain his rhythm and game fitness ahead of the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.
During the Ireland tour, Bumrah will lead a relatively young Indian side that includes emerging talents such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh.
The selection committee will also keep a close watch on Prasidh Krishna during the Ireland tour. The tall and promising fast bowler is making a comeback to competitive cricket after a lengthy period of injury. His performance during this tour could potentially influence his selection for the upcoming 50-over World Cup later this year.
