The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India is set to amp up the search for management and support staff of the India’s women cricket team.
They have invited applications for the position of head coach of the team for a tenure of two years. This decision was taken following the termination of the two-year stint of the current head coach WV Raman.
According to the advertisement released by the BCCI, the applicant needs to fulfil certain criteria to be eligible for the selection. The applicant should have represented India or any other country at the international level or must be an NCA Level ‘C’ certified coach .
If not this, they should at least have a similar certification from a reputed organization/institute and played a minimum of 50 First-Class matches. I
Candidates who have coached an international team for a minimum of one season or a T20 franchise for at least two seasons will also be considered for the post.
Many veterans have applied for the position, including Tushar Arothe, Jaya Sharma, Suman Sharma and Nooshin Al Khadeer among others. Following this, we bring to you the top-3 contenders for the role of head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team.
Sulakshan Kulkarni:
Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy with Kulkarni as the coach in the 2012-13 season. During his three-year stint, the Mumbai team reached the semifinals in 2011-12 and the quarters in the 2013-14 season.
Apart from this, he has also coached Chattisgarh and Vidarbha. Kulkarni coached India’s specially-abled cricket team which won the inaugural T20 Physical Disability World Cricket Series in 2019.
His impressive CV makes him a top contender for the position of head coach.
Mamatha Maben:
The Women’s Selection Committee has requested the BCCI to consider appointing female personnel in prominent roles for the women’s national team.
Veteran cricketer Mamatha Maben could be a perfect match for the position as she has coached the Bangladesh and Chinese women’s national teams apart from holding coaching positions in the Women’s T20 Challenge for the Supernovas.
Hemlata Kala:
Former Indian cricketer Hemlata Kala has also applied for the position of head coach. She has played seven women’s Test matches and 74 women’s ODIs.
She was appointed as a selector in 2015 and following that was given the position of panel chief in 2016. Hemlata has brought talents like Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues into the limelight and has also worked with the Uttar Pradesh senior team as the head coach.
Given her achievements in the sport, she is a serious candidate for the spot.
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