Mhambrey appointed India A bowling coach

Paras Mhambrey has been roped in to assist Rahul Dravid as the bowling coach of the India A team. The former India medium-pacer, who is also the Vidarbha coach, will join the India A squad in Chennai ahead of the first four-day game against Australia A from July 18.

According to a BCCI insider, Dravid recommended Mhambrey for the role. The BCCI then formally approached Mhambrey, who accepted their offer after assuring the Vidarbha Cricket Association that he wouldn't leave them in the lurch.

"I am happy to work with Rahul. It feels really nice when someone of his pedigree takes so much interest in the appointment of support staff," Mhambrey told ESPNcricinfo. "Working with the India A lot is an exciting prospect. There is a lot of potential in this India A group and I am looking forward to helping them maximise it."

The VCA was happy to release him despite his contract running till the end of the season. Mhambrey will thus skip the KSCA Shafi Darashah tournament since the pre-season tournament clashes with the India A series.

"We are delighted to see Paras getting such an opportunity," the VCA president Prakash Dixit said. "He assured us that he will join us as soon as the series is over and knowing him, we are sure he will keep in touch with our players regularly."

Mhambrey has gained plenty of coaching experience since leading Mumbai to a Ranji Trophy triumph as a player. Over the last last twelve years, he has coached Maharashtra, Bengal, Baroda and Vidarbha. He was also a part of the Mumbai Indians coaching staff for four years.