VRV Singh, Lakshmipathy Balaji shortlisted for CoE coaching roles

After Troy Cooley left the Centre of Excellence (CoE) late last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) explored the possibility of appointing another overseas bowling expert for its Bengaluru facility. It interviewed a few foreign coaches and came close to hiring Steffan Jones, the noted bowling coach from England.

However, it is learnt that the plans have not exactly materialised as of now. The BCCI has now turned to Indian coaches, including VRV Singh and Lakshmipathy Balaji, for the CoE roles.

The two former India pacers are set to be part of the 10 new coaches being appointed for the CoE, for which the advertisement was issued in February. The new staff are likely to take charge once the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season concludes, with some of the appointees currently associated with IPL franchises.

Apart from VRV Singh and L Balaji, P Krishnakumar, the accomplished bowling coach of the Jammu and Kashmir state side that won the Ranji Trophy this year, could be the third bowling coach to be hired. Krishnakumar has coached the likes of Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh and Umran Malik, among others. The BCCI had advertised for three bowling coach positions and appears to have finalised the candidates.

Yere Goud, a former Karnataka all-rounder, will be one of the batting coaches. Goud (54), who played 134 first-class matches and 49 List A games between 1994 and 2011, is set to be part of a two-member batting coaching group. The BCCI is also understood to have zeroed in on Sunetra Paranjpe, a former India women's cricketer.

Dishant Yagnik, a former Rajasthan and Rajasthan Royals player, is among the four fielding coaches selected. Yagnik is currently the fielding coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.

Talks with Jones were at an advanced stage and those in the know believed that the 52-year-old, who has extensive experience in County cricket, would take up the CoE role. What has exactly stalled the deal or whether the talks will continue is not clear. Jones was recently in Hyderabad for a private coaching stint.

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