Karnataka coaches seem to be in high demand these days. A day after Sunil Joshi was roped in as a spin consultant by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the upcoming Australia series, J Arun Kumar looks set to takeover as the coach of Hyderabad.
Arun Kumar, whose contract with the Karnataka State Cricket Association was not renewed this season, has been approached by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) after the incumbent Bharat Arun had to relieve himself following his appointment as the bowling coach of the Indian team.
Sources revealed the former maverick batsman turned coach was due to fly to Hyderabad on August 24 and hold talks with the HCA. While both parties are interested in each other, the deal is yet to be inked and negotiations on the team and support staff, among other things, will be discussed.
Arun Kumar oversaw one of the most successful phases in the history of Karnataka cricket. Appointed the batting coach by the Anil Kumble-led administration in 2012, the 42-year-old took Karnataka to unprecedented glory. Blessed with an extremely talented team, Arun Kumar, in the company of bowling coach Mansoor Ali Khan, helped Karnataka accomplish a stupendous double-treble (sweeping the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 seasons).
The overwhelming success resulted in young players like K L Rahul, Karun Nair and Manish Pandey earning national call-up. With many players graduating, Karnataka’s fortunes started to take a hit and they failed to qualify for the Ranji Trophy knock-outs in 2015-16 and crashed out in the quarterfinals last season.
Published 22 August 2017, 19:52 IST