Paras Mhambrey who has been employed with the National Cricket Academy for nearly a decade will be replacing Bharat Arun as bowling coach of Team India. He worked with Rahul Dravid during the latter’s tenure as NCA head coach and the duo are now set to take over India positions. Meanwhile, R Sridhar will be replaced by T Dilip as the fielding coach. As per reports, Rahul Dravid was instrumental in appointing the support staff. Interestingly, the same trio had traveled to Sri Lanka earlier this year in the absence of Ravi Shastri and Co. with the main India squad in England to play a five-match Test series against the home team.
Meanwhile, Vikram Rathour is all set to be retained as the batting coach. Rathour (52) was an automatic choice given that he has had good reviews from the Indian team. He recently disclosed that he had applied for the position. The appointment of Mhambrey was on the expected lines given the long association the former Mumbai pacer had with Dravid at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Under-19 and India A teams. Dravid himself has admitted that he is comfortable working with the 49-year-old Mumbaikar, who played two Tests and three ODIs in the late 90s. The trio will have to report at Jaipur ahead of the first match against New Zealand, a Twenty20 International, on November 17. India play two more T20Is and two Tests against New Zealand before flying to South Africa.
