Sulakshan Kulkarni named Mumbai coach

Former Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman Sulakshan Kulkarni has been appointed coach of the Mumbai team. The decision was taken at a meeting of the cricket improvement committee (CIC) of the Mumbai Cricket Association, chaired by Chandrakant Pandit, on Monday.

Kulkarni, 44, was chosen ahead of Sanjay Bangar, Zubin Barucha, Zulfikar Parkar and Sandeep Dahad. "We discussed all names and their finer points but we finally settled for Sulakshan," Pandit said. "We also asked [Balwinder Singh] Sandhu (a CIC member) whether he could take up the job but he didn't want to. It had been too long and we didn't want to waste time. We wanted to appoint the coach as early as possible." However, the term of the coach is yet to be fixed.

Kulkarni, who is presently coach of the Vidarbha team, played for Mumbai, Railways, Assam and Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy. He was part of the domestic circuit for 15 years and took 122 catches, made 21 stumpings and scored 3332 runs at an average of 38.29 in 65 matches. He also worked with the Mumbai junior teams before moving to Vidarbha.

"What was impressive about Sulakshan was that he is focussed on two important aspects of Mumbai cricket," Pandit said. "Having a strong bench strength and winning the Ranji Trophy is what he had planned for.

"Apart from that, he has passion for Mumbai cricket and the khadoos attitude which every Mumbaikar should have," Pandit said. "He has good strategies to perform and the focus was on having a strong bench strength."

"It will be a real challenge for me," Kulkarni told the Indian Express. "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."

Kulkarni succeeded former India batsman Pravin Amre, who quit earlier this year after Mumbai lost the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy quarter-finals to eventual winners Rajasthan. During Amre's five-year stint as coach, Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy three times.

The CIC also named former Mumbai captain Milind Rege as the chief selector, with Abdul Ismail, Abey Kuruvilla and Pradeep Kasliwal as part of the selection panel. The Under-19 team will be coached by Satish Samant, with Ravi Thakkar as chief selector.