The former domestic cricketer Sulakshan Kulkarni has been named the coach of the Chattisgarh Ranji team which will participate in the Ranji trophy for the first time. He was selected as the coach in the meeting of the Chattisgarh state board. Along with him Ashish Agrawal and Prahlad Patel have been appointed as Physiotherapist and Trainer for the upcoming season respectively.
Kulkarni has formerly coached Vidarbha team from 2009 to 2011 before switching over to Mumbai for the next four seasons. However, the wicket-keeper was sacked as the coach of the Mumbai team as the team failed to qualify for the semi-final of the Ranji trophy season 2013-14.
After a period of two years, Kulkarni is back for the coaching role and is all set to coach the new team of Chattisgarh. “I’m 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” Kulkarni told TOI on Friday from Raipur. Kulkarni will take up the role from today itself as the association will kick off the camp for the upcoming season from today.
The secretary of Chattisgarh State Cricket Sangh Rajesh Dave seemed quite amused with the appointment of Kulkarni as coach. He counted out all the achievements of Kulkarni in past and said “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’re 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,”
Speaking of the debut season and the Naxal problem in the area he said “It would’ve 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,”
“We want to attract the youth towards cricket, so that they don’t 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.
The Chattisgarh team was given a full membership by BCCI and was added as the 29th team a few months back.
The newly appointed coach Sulakshan Kulkarni is an experienced campaigner both as a player and as a coach, In 17 years of First Class cricket he showed up for as much as five Ranji states. His best innings of 239 runs came for Mumbai where he shared a partnership of 459 runs along with the former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer. He was also awarded the best Ranji Cricketer of the year and Best Ranji Batsman in the year 1995-96. He also won the award for the Best Wicket Keeper in the year 1996-97.