Reports: Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Vijay Mohanraj apply for India coaching role

The post of the Indian cricket team coach has been vacant since Ravi Shastri’s tenure as director of the team ended after the ICC World T20. The BCCI had been accepting applications for the post of head coach until Friday and the final decision will be taken by the BCCI working committee.

Former Indian batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who played two Test matches and a handful of ODIs for India, has reportedly applied for the coaching role. Kanitkar famously led Rajasthan to a Ranji Trophy triumph in 2011 and had also captained Maharashtra to the Ranji Trophy Plate league title.

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Kanitkar was appointed as an assistant coach of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the 2011 IPL but quit due to disputes with the owners. Kanitkar also served as coach of the Goa Ranji team in the 2015-2016 season.

Vijay Mohanraj, who played for Mumbai and Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy from 1976 to 1988, has also reportedly applied to be Team India coach. Mohanraj became the coach and selector of the Hyderabad Ranji team after his retirement from the game in 1988 and worked as a manager for the Deccan Chargers during the 2008 IPL season.

The BCCI had advertised for the post of national team head coach on 1 June after the post had been vacant since Duncan Fletcher’s contract ended after the 2015 World Cup. The board had a nine-point checklist for the appointment of a coach including a desire for a Hindi speaking coach. The BCCI are also looking for a candidate who does not have a controversial character.

Team India had effectively functioned without a proper coach after Ravi Shastri was appointed the team director after Duncan Fletcher’s contract expired. Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar were the batting, bowling and fielding coaches.

Apart from Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Vijay Rajmohan, former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad, national selection committee chairman Sandeep Patil have also applied for the role. Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri, who was team director for India during the World T20, has also applied for the role and is one of the favourites to be selected.

The selection procedure is expected to be completed on or before 24 June, which is the date of the BCCI Working Committee meeting scheduled in Dharamsala.