I have the credentials to be batting coach: J Arun Kumar

Former Karnataka batsman J Arun Kumar has thrown his hat into the ring as the BCCI continues its search for a batting coach for the Indian cricket team. Arun Kumar is a highly respected coach at the domestic level and boasts of an NCA Level 2 certification. He has also played for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy during his playing days as well as represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first season, playing a solitary match.

In 2012, J Arun Kumar was appointed as the batting coach of the Karnataka State Cricket team. It was also a funny coincidence that at the time the younger generation was making its way into the squad. He was also assisted by Mansur Ali Khan, who served as the bowling coach for the team. Arun Kumar also ensured that the south Indian team did, in fact, relive its golden years as they won two Ranji Trophy titles back-to-back.

He is also responsible for nurturing the talent of players such as Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, and Karun Nair. All these three players have made it to the Indian national side while the likes of Mayank Agarwal, J Suchith, and Shreyas Gopal have made a name for themselves in the IPL and other such domestic tournaments.

“I have all the credentials to be coaching a national team. I am a certified NCA Level 2 coach. Some of the players I coached, such as Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair, have made it to India and India A squads.

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“As I have handled a lot of youngsters here, I can understand the requirements of the players in Team India. Apart from basic coaching, I’ve also mastered the skills of preparing the players mentally and physically, added the 41-year-old, who has played 109 first-class matches and 100 List A games.”

The BCCI has been on the lookout for a full-time coach for the Indian team following the expiry of the contract of former team director Ravi Shastri. The other coaches including Sanjay Bangar, R Sridhar, and Bharat Arun is also unlikely to renew their contracts with the board, thus leaving the door open for J Arun Kumar to stake his claim in the national side. The BCCI is looking to fill up the vacancies before the team departs to the West Indies for a four-match Test series in July.