Sitanshu Kotak appointed as the new batting coach of team India for the upcoming white ball series against England

The 52-year-old Kotak is engaged with National Cricket Academy as a batting coach for an extended time. He has accompanied both the Senior and Def teams on tours for a number of years now.

“It is evident that Abhishek Nayar’s expertise is not helping the players. Kotak has also got the confidence of players as he has been working as a batting coach for a long time,” the senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The Indian batters were found wanting on the technical aspect in Australia as Virat Kohli’s outside-off-stump woes started showing up very often. The Indians ended up losing the five-match series 1-3.

Kotak was a hard-hitting left-hander in his domestic career, scoring over 8000 first-class runs in 130 matches, including 15 centuries.

He was well-known, especially for his two shots – cover drive off the pitched ball and the flick which was played off the pads.

It is believed this will be a one-off appointment given that an away series against the same side is still some time away in June.

The home engagement against the same side starts on January 22 and includes five T20 Internationals and three ODIs.

“We have an India-A shadow tour, and Kotak usually looks after the A side. He is a qualified Level 3 coach, has assisted VVS Laxman before, and was the head coach when India toured Ireland last year. Being part of the NCA staff, he can be placed anywhere,” added the source.

It is said that former Mumbai star Nayar might come under the scanner. Most believe that he would stay only until a powerful senior player who had a say in his appointment was part of the Indian corps.

During the Australia tour, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had questioned the role of the Indian support staff, pointing to their accountability for the ongoing technical deficiencies of players like Kohli.

Other assistant coaches in the support staff are former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel (bowling) and Dutchman Ryan Ten Doeschate (fielding).