Mumbai rope in Kulkarni as new coach

Former Mumbai wicketkeeper and Vidarbha coach Sulakshan Kulkarni has been appointed Mumbai coach for two seasons replacing Pravin Amre,who quit last season. Newly-appointed Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) chief Chandrakant Pandit confirmed Kulkarni’s appointment following a meeting at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) office on Monday.

The 44-year-old Kulkarni,who represented an array of teams including Mumbai,Assam,Railways and Vidarbha in his 15-year long first-class career,is expected to take charge after he informs the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) about his new assignment. “I’m really excited. It will be a challenge for me. I have worked here before too,and I’m looking forward to take charge soon. Coaching Mumbai always involves a lot of pride,and there is a great tradition that you have to take stock of. And I will try my level best,” Kulkarni told The Indian Express.

Kulkarni has worked with Mumbai junior teams in the past,which according to Pandit,worked in his favour. Pandit said the CIC was initially keen to hire the services of Balwinder Sandhu but the former India new ball bowler wasn’t interested. The CIC had also interviewed Sanjay Bangar,Zubin Bharucha (who flew from Bangkok) and Sandeep Dahad but the committee was always keen on someone who was already aware of the set-up. “Sulu (Kulkarni) knows the whole set-up of Mumbai cricket. The committee discussed everyone and everybody agreed on him. He was a typical Mumbai style and you can call him a khadoos coach,” Pandit added.