JOIN USJoshi named Assam coach
Former India all-rounder Sunil Joshi has been appointed the Assam senior cricket team’s coach, a position previously held by his Karnataka State-mate and former paceman K Sanath Kumar.
Joshi’s contract will run for two years and this will be the third state team that the former Karnataka captain will be coaching after his stints with Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir.
“My job would be to build on the success they (Assam) enjoyed the last season,” said Joshi, who thanked his employers Canara Bank for their support in his cricketing activities. “For me, it’s a new team and a new set of players who are hungry for more success. They got into the knockout stage (lost to Saurashtra in the semifinal) last season and I want to help them achieve bigger things, draw roadmap for progressing further,” said the 46-year-old.
While the left-arm spinner had helped Hyderabad earn promotion to Elite division in 2012 from the lower Plate group (a system which has since been scrapped), his biggest feat as J&K coach was the team’s win over the mighty Mumbai in the 2014-15 season.
“My experience with Hyderabad and J&K will definitely be handy,” he stressed. “I know what it takes for small teams to beat bigger teams and that’s what I want to instill in the side.”
Joshi said his focus would be to improve fitness and strengthen the batting department. “Assam’s bowling unit is fantastic, they have some crafty and experienced bowlers, so I want the batsmen too to step up. There were a couple of batsmen who did really well, but as a batting group more would be needed if you want to go all the way in a tournament,” he reasoned.
Paceman Krishna Das claimed 50 wickets while his new ball partner Arup Das bagged 35 to star in Assam’s progress to their maiden semifinals in Ranji Trophy.
In batting their two imports, Amit Verma and KB Arun Karthik shone the brightest. While Verma topped 500 runs for the season, Arun was the third highest run-getter of the tournament with 802 runs.