Sanju Samson not batting enough at number five and six doesn't mean he can't do the job there, said India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Friday while expressing confidence in the Kerala dasher's ability ahead of the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan.
Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel faced spinners while wearing only one pad to counter the turning deliveries, a method that comes with an element of risk, in Kolkata on Monday.
Defending champions India had a full-fledged practice session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday as they put the finishing touches to their Asia Cup preparations.
Praising the Indian batters, Kotak highlighted that apart from X-factor players like Rishabh Pant, they have batted responsibly yet managed to score four runs per over.
Mike Hesson is free to rank Pakistan left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz as high as he wants but India know where their spinners are placed in the world order.
The 24-year-old Jurel stepped in as keeper twice during the series - once after Pant took a blow to his finger in the third Test at Lord's, and again in the Manchester Test when Pant sustained a foot injury that ruled him out.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained the team's rationale behind playing an all-rounder at No 8 rather than fielding a specialist bowler.
'I've never seen anything like it in my life.'
Applications have been invited for leading positions in bowling, batting, and sports science and medicine departments at BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Injured wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will bat on day five of the fourth Test, said India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Saturday.
The 34-year-old not being picked for the first two T20s raised questions over his fitness but Kotak said the veteran pacer has no issues on that front.
The young team, led by Jasprit Bumrah, wasted no time in kickstarting their preparations as they assembled for the nets a few hours after landing.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
The Indian team's heavy reliance on all-rounders will be tested by a plucky Australia in the second ODI but the spotlight will continue to stay firmly on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom would look to turn back the clock with series-saving knocks in Adelaide on Thursday.
The 36-year-old all-rounder once again rose to the occasion, batting with remarkable patience, steel and a fierce will to fight. Partnering first with Jasprit Bumrah and then Mohammed Siraj, Jadeja weathered thunderbolts and mind games. His 61 not out off 181 balls, spread over nearly five hours, brought India within 22 agonising runs of victory.
The tourists have hosted a training camp at the South East London venue in Beckenham as they solidify their preparations for the first bilateral Test series without batting bigwigs Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Conceding that India could not get the first innings score they were looking in the first Test against England, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak felt Rishabh Pant's stroke-filled 134 was different from his usual aggressive knock.
When a few fans called out his name, he instructed the security team to let them approach.
Saurashtra were 232 for 5 in reply to Himachal Pradesh's first innings score of 214 at close on day 2 of the Plate Ranji Trophy match.
Kotak highlighted the flexibility of Rahul, who came almost an hour early to the scheduled net session.
Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel on Wednesday said India head coach Gautam Gambhir "had all the right of just losing it" following a fiery confrontation with Lee Fortis, Surrey's head of ground staff at The Oval.
'I have no doubt the players share the compassion and feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public.'
On NCA Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak's birthday, the 25 year old celebrated and expressed gratitude for Kotak's support during his recovery journey.
India captain Shubman Gill threw his weight behind Gautam Gambhir following the latter's fiery exchange with The Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis, firmly asserting that the India coach was well within his rights to inspect the square.
The altercation between head coach Gautam Gambhir and Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis happened after the visitors were asked to stand "2.5 metres from the wicket."
Defending champions Uttar Pradesh earned two points on account of their first innings lead as their Ranji Trophy Super League match against Saurashtra ended in a draw.
Sitanshu Kotak stood tall amid ruins and struck a fighting hundred to steer Saurashtra to a vital first innings lead on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Division tie against Maharashtra.
With the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) expected to offer some grip to the spinners, the Indian batters did not want to leave anything to the chance.
Samson had new batting batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and throwdown specialists for company.
The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
India and England players will push their tired bodies on the line with everything to play for in the fifth and final Test starting at The Oval on Thursday
Virat Kohli fit to play 2nd ODI.
National Cricket Academy coaches Sitanshu Kotak, Sairaj Bahutule and Munish Bali will be part of India cricket team's support staff, which will be headed by VVS Laxman, on the short tour of Ireland later this month.
The BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) in India is expected to witness a few changes in staff composition in the coming months following the resignation of Nitin Patel, head of Sports Science and Medical Team, after a successful stint of nearly three years.
With India conceding more than 600 runs for the first time since 2014, the case for including a wicket-taking spinner like Kuldeep Yadav is stronger than ever for the must-win fifth and final Test against England.
The Indian cricket team's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has been sacked just eight months
While the young Indian team showed great resolve to earn a creditable draw in England, the series exposed several weaknesses that need urgent attention.
It may be hosting an ODI for the first time since December 22, 2019, but Cuttack has always served up belters and it may be no different this time.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said India may have missed a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav at Lord's and Manchester, as quality spinners come to the fore on the last two days of a Test match.
"When a captain or a coach says something like this, obviously there is a bit of confidence and you've to back yourself up.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances