All posts tagged: Sitanshu

Manav Suthar very bright prospect, knew he would play for India: Sitanshu Kotak

Manav Suthar very bright prospect, knew he would play for India: Sitanshu Kotak

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4 min readUpdated: Jun 8, 2026 07:39 PM IST With his six-wicket haul in Afghanistan’s first innings, debutant Manav Suthar impressed all and sundry in the Mullanpur Test. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who has spent time with Suthar at India A in recent years, lauded the left-arm spinner’s effort and said he knew that the 23-year-old would play for India one day. “He (Manav Suthar) bowled really well. Suthar is a very bright prospect and it was a great opportunity for him. He has been performing well at different levels in the last 3-4 years,” Kotak said at the press conference after India’s record innings win. “The way he bowled for India A, anybody would say he is very talented and consistent. Since I have seen him for a long time, I knew he would play for India.” Suthar’s figures of 6 for 33 were the third best by any Indian bowler in an innings on debut. Meanwhile, India’s victory by an innings and 300 runs on Monday surpassed their previous mark of winning …

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak

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3 min readUpdated: Jun 8, 2026 05:59 PM IST Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for being the youngest male cricketer to have played for India. If the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi plays in India’s upcoming tours of Ireland and England, he will break it, with Tendulkar being aged 16 years and 205 days when he made his debut for India in a Test against Pakistan in 1989. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said that he is excited for Sooryavanshi’s arrival in the Indian team and explained what the coaches’s approach will be towards the talented teenager. “See, as a batting coach or any coach, it’s always a challenge because at this level the players have their own thinking, their own style, their own way they have succeeded. And then, you try to add something, it always takes time, it always takes the trust for them to believe. And for me, it is so important how much you want to add and when you want to add,” Kotak told reporters after …

‘Don’t over-analyse’ – batting coach Sitanshu Kotak’s take on Abhishek Sharma’s lean run

‘Don’t over-analyse’ – batting coach Sitanshu Kotak’s take on Abhishek Sharma’s lean run

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3 min readAhmedabadFeb 17, 2026 10:32 PM IST India’s first-choice opening pair in the ICC T20 World Cup has seen contrasting fortunes. While Ishan Kishan has been dominating proceedings, Abhishek Sharma – who was expected to set the tournament on fire – has yet to score a run. Ahead of their final group match against the Netherlands, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak treated both the dashers equally. “We all know how capable he (Ishan) is. I have known him since 2019 when he was with India U19. He has always been a very confident player,” Kotak said. “He is not someone who cares too much about things. That is his strength, his nature. T20 cricket needs that. He plays around the ground and is very difficult to restrict if you don’t get him out.” Abhishek’s lack of runs is not a concern, the batting coach claimed. “We unnecessarily don’t over-analyse. Sometimes you start making more assumptions than the opposition. He (Abhishek) has got his plan sorted and plays the way he wants to. Obviously, we discuss …

‘I always see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma talking with Gautam Gambhir… they discuss ODI plans’: Sitanshu Kotak rubbishes miscommunication rumours | Cricket News

‘I always see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma talking with Gautam Gambhir… they discuss ODI plans’: Sitanshu Kotak rubbishes miscommunication rumours | Cricket News

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India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak dismissed rumours of miscommunication between the team management and stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, besides stressing that they are communicating with them on a regular basis. “They discuss with Gautam (Gambhir) about ODI formats, about the matches we have, and our plans going (ahead) to South Africa (World Cup in 2027),” he said. “Most of the time I’m there and if I’m listening. They definitely share the experience and I always see them talking. Obviously, in social media, you see a lot of things which I try to avoid seeing,” he quipped. Rumours of indifference had been floating around since Rohit and Kohli retired from Tests as well as Shubman Gill displacing Rohit as the ODI skipper. The board, according to reports, summoned a meeting to fix communication issues between senior players and selectors during the South Africa series. But Kotak stressed that the senior players and the team management are on the same page. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir (left) talks with Shreyas Iyer during a practice session …

‘No point talking about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 2027 World Cup participation now,’ says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak | Cricket News

‘No point talking about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 2027 World Cup participation now,’ says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak | Cricket News

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India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Sunday reiterated that the 2027 ODI World Cup was still a long way out from the team’s radar and that the future of heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should not be discussed for now. In the ODI series opener against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, Kohli and Rohit rolled back the years with scintillating knocks, setting up what would eventually be a 17-run win in a high-scoring match. While Rohit struck his third successive half-century in the format, the 37-year-old Kohli smashed his record-extending 52nd ODI century, his 25th at home. Kohli was uncharacteristically aggressive during his 135-run knock, smashing seven sixes to deflate the Proteas bowlers. However, Kotak it was too early to definitively say anything concerning the futures of both Rohit and Kohli, who only play the 50-over format now. “In my opinion, there should be no such talks. Talking about things that are two years away, I don’t think there is any point talking about such things. I don’t think we are even talking …

‘People saying Gautam Gambhir, Gautam Gambhir’: Sitanshu Kotak says coach took blame, shielded Eden Gardens curator | Cricket News

‘People saying Gautam Gambhir, Gautam Gambhir’: Sitanshu Kotak says coach took blame, shielded Eden Gardens curator | Cricket News

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What happened in Kolkata could have remained in Kolkata, but Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Thursday opted for a striking revision of events from the Eden Gardens Test ahead of the second match against South Africa in Guwahati. Responding to a question on the weakening defences of his team’s batters on turning tracks, the 53-year-old first recounted last weekend’s horrors to slip in the team’s collective change in stance. Defending the nature of the pitch that handed them a stunning 30-run defeat in the series opener, head coach Gautam Gambhir had lamented India’s poor batting exhibition rather than pointing fingers at the pitch and its preparation last Sunday. But Kotak went into an “honest” recall of events on day three in Kolkata, jumping to Gambhir’s defence and shifting the base of the blame game elsewhere. “At the press conference after the last match, Gautam (Gambhir) took all the blame on himself. He did that because he felt the blame should not fall on the curator,” Kotak told reporters at the Barsapara Stadium on …

KL Rahul Has Accepted His New Role As Number 6 Batter: Coach Sitanshu Kotak

KL Rahul Has Accepted His New Role As Number 6 Batter: Coach Sitanshu Kotak

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KL Rahul’s demotion to No. 6 has been discussed threadbare but India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the wicketkeeper-batter has accepted the new role wholeheartedly, which has given the batting a lot more depth. Rahul has enjoyed immense success as the No. 5 batter, scoring over 1,000 runs at an average in excess of 50, but since the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year, he has been batting a position down. However, Rahul has shown signs of adapting to the demands of the rather unfamiliar slot, and it was evident when he made an unbeaten 42 against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal. Alongside Hardik Pandya, the right-hander added quick 34 runs to shut the door firmly on Australia. Kotak highlighted the flexibility of Rahul, who came almost an hour early to the scheduled net session. “He is someone who can open, someone who can go at 4 or 5, and someone who is doing what number 6 is demanding. He adapts well and he is very happy in the role he …

“Don’t Know How To Respond”: India Coach Sitanshu Kotak Loses Cool Over ‘Advantage’ Query

“Don’t Know How To Respond”: India Coach Sitanshu Kotak Loses Cool Over ‘Advantage’ Query

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Just two days remain before the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand begins in Dubai. While the Indian team arrives into the title-decider with zero defeats to their name, New Zealand’s one and only loss came against their opponents in the final. Despite the fact that India have played near-perfect cricket to reach the final, a large chunk of credit for their journey so far, is being given to the venue in Dubai. India, unlike other teams in the Champions Trophy, have played all of their matches at a single venue – the Dubai International Cricket Stadium – while others have had to fly to multiple cities. It’s this reason that has made many assert that the Indian team had an ‘undue advantage’ in comparison to others in the Champions Trophy. Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, however, shut down the talks in the press conference on Friday, saying it’s not like the conditions in Dubai were changed after the Champions Trophy draw was made. “I don’t understand what advantage …

Is Virat Kohli Fit To Play 2nd ODI Against England? India’s Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak Breaks Silence

Is Virat Kohli Fit To Play 2nd ODI Against England? India’s Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak Breaks Silence

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Star batter Virat Kohli has recovered from a sore right knee and is fit to play the second ODI against England in Cuttack on Sunday, confirmed batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. “Virat Kohli is fit to play. He has come for practice and is good to go,” Kotak told mediapersons on the eve of the second game. However he didn’t divulge who among opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and last match’s half-centurion Shreyas Iyer would be dropped from the playing eleven. “It is captain (Rohit Sharma) and coach’s (Gautam Gambhir) call. I can’t answer this,” Kotak replied. He also played down skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor form, stating that it is a mere “lean patch”. Who will Kohli replace? Shreyas Iyer, who came in for Kohli at the last minute by his own admission, made a rollicking 36-ball 59 that has made dropping him an almost unthinkable act. If the past norms are followed, then Kohli will walk in for Shreyas, but it is more likely that Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the one who will have to …

‘Virat Kohli is fit and available for selection’: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak ahead of 2nd ODI vs ENG | Cricket News

‘Virat Kohli is fit and available for selection’: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak ahead of 2nd ODI vs ENG | Cricket News

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India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Saturday bore good news for the Indian team and its fans as he confirmed star batter Virat Kohli was fit and available for selection for the second ODI match against England at Cuttack on Sunday. ‘Virat Kohli is fit to play. He has come for practice and is good to go,” Kotak said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the match. Kohli had missed out of the 1st ODI in Nagpur due to a knee injury, skipper Rohit Sharma had said at the toss before the first of the three matches between India and England. “Virat Kohli was unavailable for selection for the 1st ODI due to a sore right knee,” the BCCI had posted on the day of the match. With Kohli available, it throws up a dilemma for the Indian team management on who will he will replace in the playing 11. In the last match, Shreyas Iyer, came in for Kohli at the last minute by his own admission, and made a rollicking 36-ball 59 …