Current cricketer Dhawal Kulkarni part of India's backroom staff at World Cup

Dhawal Kulkarni during a World Cup practice session

During India’s matches at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup, one might have seen Dhawal Kulkarni around and wondered what he was doing with the team as he wasn’t named in the 15-member squad for the tournament. Well, it looks like India have found a way to keep Kulkarni back in Australia as a member of the team management.

Kulkarni’s name figures alongside the likes of head coach Duncan Fletcher and team director Ravi Shastri on the board that lists the backroom staff of the Indian side. Here’s a picture taken last week:

Indian team management pic outside dressing room. @dhawal_kulkarni (left bottom corner) #WorldCupExpress #CWC2015 pic.twitter.com/AVUHSlzUxG

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) February 27, 2015

The 25-year-old was named in the initial list of 30 probables for the World Cup but didn’t make the final cut. He was overlooked even after Ishant Sharma’s injury as Mohit Sharma was chosen over him to replace the Delhi pacer.

Kulkarni seems to have been included mainly because Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been struggling with an injury ever since the tour to Australia started last December. With Mohammad Shami also missing a match in the current World Cup due to injury, the BCCI finds more reason to keep the Mumbaikar with the team.

Having made his debut in a match in England last year, Kulkarni has played 4 ODIs for India so far and has picked up 8 wickets at the rate of 23 per scalp.