R Sridhar likely to return as India fielding coach for New Zealand series

After being overlooked for India’s tour of the West Indies, former India fielding coach R Sridhar is likely to be reinstated to his post with the players reportedly communicating to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they were preferred him to former Hyderabad first-class cricketer Abhay Sharma, who had replaced Sridhar for the series against the West Indies.

According to The Hindu, the selection committee meeting which had met on Monday to select the Indian squad for the first match of three-Test series against New Zeland, which begins at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur, also saw a review of the West Indies tour headed by BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke along with Test skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble.

It is understood that the players sounded their preference for Sridhar, who had joined the Indian coaching setup midway during the disastrous tour of England in 2014, as part of the shake-up that saw Ravi Shastri being appointed Team director, Sanjay Bangar took over as the team’s batting coach and Bharat Arun as the bowling coach.

After their contracts had run out at the end of the 2016 World T20, only Bangar was retained in his post while Sridhar took up a role as fielding coach of the India A side that is currently on tour in Australia.

However, following a thorough discussion with the India and India A team management, the BCCI has taken the decision to bring back the vastly experienced coach back into the national side coaching setup.

Having completed a three-level course to be a certified coach in 2007, Sridhar served as coach of the Hyderabad Under-16 and Under-19 sides as well as the Indian Under-19 team.

He also has a good rapport with several members of the Indian cricket team having served at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, which ultimately played a huge part in getting back his role as Team India’s fielding coach.

An official announcement from the BCCI is expected soon enough and, with a busy home season – with as many as 14 Tests scheduled for Team India, Sridhar’s contract would at least cover the entirety of that period or perhaps equal to the tenure where Kumble will be in charge.

For now though, Sridhar’s focus will remain the upcoming series against New Zealand which will feature three Test matches and five ODIs.