Indian team support staff: T Dilip as fielding coach, Rathour as batting

Indian Team Support Staff: Vikram Rathour & T Dilip to assist Dravid – With Rahul Dravid appointed as the head coach, he was expected to get the support of his trusted associates from NCA and U-19 coaching days. But the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is likely to snub his choice of Abhay Sharma as the fielding coach. T Dilip is now the frontrunner to get the job ahead of Sharma. The new coaching staff will take charge from the New Zealand series, starting November 17. The announcement is expected on Thursday. Follow IND vs NZ Live Updates on InsideSport.in.

Indian Team Support Staff: “Abhay has been with Rahul for long so there is always a comfort zone. But the CAC felt he should be with the NCA to take the work forward. Rahul suggested Abhay’s name but both are very capable. Dilip was on the Sri Lanka tour as the fielding coach and has already worked with the first team players and Abhay knows in and out of the young players,” a top BCCI official told InsideSport.

Indian Team Support Staff: CAC set to go against Rahul Dravid’s advice, T Dilip to be appointed fielding coach instead of Abhay Sharma

As for the two other positions, Vikram Rathour is all set to retain his batting coach position while Rahul Dravid’s long-time confidante Paras Mhambrey will get the bowling coach job. InsideSport has learnt that Dravid wanted Abhay Sharma as the fielding coach but the CAC comprising Sulakshana Naik and RP Singh opted for T Dilip. The former Hyderabad fielding coach has also been part of NCA and accompanied Dravid on Sri Lanka tour.

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Indian Team Support Staff: Who will get what position?

Vikram Rathour will retain the batting coach’s job and work with Rahul Dravid in this department.
Rathour was the only support staff to reapply for the position while Bharat Arun and Ravi Shastri decided against seeking another term.
T Dilip is all set to be named fielding coach.
Dilip accompanied Rahul Dravid on the Sri Lanka tour in July as the fielding coach.
The CAC and some BCCI office-bearers wanted Abhay Sharma to continue the work at NCA.
The announcement will be made on Thursday or Friday and the new coaching staff will head to Jaipur for the New Zealand series.

Indian Team Support Staff: CAC set to go against Rahul Dravid’s advice, T Dilip to be appointed fielding coach instead of Abhay Sharma

When asked when will the announcement be made, the official said the decision has already been made and it will soon be out.

Also Read: BCCI & Selectors come hard on Hardik Pandya, ‘won’t be picked, till he plays domestic cricket to prove form & fitness’

“The CAC has already selected the candidate. You can expect the announcement on Thursday or Friday. The new coaching staff will take charge from the New Zealand series and will go to Jaipur,” the official added.

Indian Team Support Staff: While a section of the BCCI office-bearers wanted Bharat Arun to continue as the bowling coach considering the line-up of pace bowlers he has prepared but he refused to seek an extension.

“See, it has been tough on him to continue as the bowling coach. He too has been in bio-bubble for long and wanted a break. But he will closely work with either NCA or the MRF pace academy or the national team in future. He is an asset for us,” the official told InsideSport.

Indian Team Support Staff: CAC set to go against Rahul Dravid’s advice, T Dilip to be appointed fielding coach instead of Abhay Sharma

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