Former India all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been appointed as the batting coach of the Rest of India (ROI) team for the upcoming Irani Cup match against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir.
The match will be played from October 1 to 5 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium. It will be Shukla’s first coaching assignment with a BCCI team.
Former India pacer and ex-national selector Debasish Mohanty will be the bowling coach, while Milap Mewada has been appointed as the fielding coach, a BCCI source told IANS on Thursday.
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Shukla set for first BCCI coaching role
Shukla, 46, played three ODIs for India in 1999. He also featured for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
He has been in charge of Bengal’s senior men’s team for the last few seasons. Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign last season ended in the semi-finals, where they lost to Jammu and Kashmir, who went on to win their maiden title.
Pant to lead Rest of India
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will captain the 15-member Rest of India squad, with Sarfaraz Khan appointed his deputy.
Jammu and Kashmir will make their first appearance in the Irani Cup after winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title earlier this year. The match will also be played on their home ground.
Akash Deep’s return subject to fitness
Fast bowler Akash Deep has been included in the ROI squad after spending around seven months on the sidelines with a lower back injury. However, his participation will depend on him clearing a fitness test.
India pacer Mukesh Kumar will lead the pace attack, with Mukesh Choudhary and Aryan Pandey also part of the squad.
Smaran, Saransh among other players
The spin department includes Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain and Anukul Roy. Saransh recently made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Karnataka batter Smaran Ravichandran, who was the leading run-scorer in last season’s Ranji Trophy, has also been included. Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami and Ayush Doseja are the other batters in the squad. Aryan Juyal has been picked as the reserve wicketkeeper.