<p>KP Bhaskar was today retained as the chief coach of Delhi Ranji team by the Cricket Affairs Committee (CAC) despite non-performance in all the domestic tournaments last year.<br /><br />Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar has been named the bowling coach, by the Madan Lal-led Committee. Prabhakar incidentally was the chief coach of the senior team during the 2010-11 season. He has replaced Amit Bhandari, whose performance had also come under scanner.<br /><br />In another important decision, Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has been appointed the coach of the Delhi Under-23 side.<br /><br />Sharma runs a popular cricket coaching centre -- West Delhi Cricket Academy, where Kohli got his first cricketing lessons.<br /><br />After deliberating for nearly five days, the Committee decided to retain Bhaskar, despite the senior team's poor performance in the premier domestic tournaments -- Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.<br /><br />In both tournaments, Delhi failed to qualify for the knock-out stage.<br /><br />However the former Delhi right-hander came into spotlight after his heated exchange with veteran opener Gautam Gambhir as they nearly came to exchanging blows.<br /><br />Gambhir had later in an interview to PTI alleged that Bhaskar was "playing with careers of youngsters and creating divide in the dressing room".<br /><br />Gambhir was later reprimanded with a suspended sentence by a disciplinary committee headed by the same Madan Lal, who later headed the CAC which also comprised Saba Karim, Sunil Valson, Amita Sharma and journalist GS Vivek.<br /><br />Asked to explain the decision to retain Bhaskar, Lal told PTI: "We had to give Bhaskar a second chance. One year is not enough time to judge someone's capability as a coach. The committee is confident that he will do a better job this year."<br /><br />Quizzed about Bhaskar's strained relationship with a senior like Gambhir, who is expected to be selected, Lal sidestepped the issue.<br /><br />"Things like these happen sometimes but we have to move ahead in life. Hopefully, it will be better this time," said the member of the 1983 World Cup winning squad.<br /><br />Prabhakar on his part is happy to be back in the Delhi cricket fold.<br /><br />"I want to help Delhi cricket in any capacity possible. Things haven't been too well and we need to clean the mess," Prabhakar said.<br /><br />Atul Wassan was retained as the chairman of the senior selection committee along with Robin Singh Junior. With Nikhil Chopra opting out, veteran Hari Gidwani was back in the panel.<br /><br />Gambhir and Gidwani did not share a great equation during his earlier stint as selector, under Vinay Lamba's chairmanship, as they had frequent disagreements on team selection.<br /><br />Former wicketkeeper-batsman Rajeev Vinayak was entrusted with the Under-19 coach's job while Bantu Singh is back as the Under-16 coach. Hitesh Sharma has been named Under-14 coach.</p>
<p>KP Bhaskar was today retained as the chief coach of Delhi Ranji team by the Cricket Affairs Committee (CAC) despite non-performance in all the domestic tournaments last year.<br /><br />Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar has been named the bowling coach, by the Madan Lal-led Committee. Prabhakar incidentally was the chief coach of the senior team during the 2010-11 season. He has replaced Amit Bhandari, whose performance had also come under scanner.<br /><br />In another important decision, Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has been appointed the coach of the Delhi Under-23 side.<br /><br />Sharma runs a popular cricket coaching centre -- West Delhi Cricket Academy, where Kohli got his first cricketing lessons.<br /><br />After deliberating for nearly five days, the Committee decided to retain Bhaskar, despite the senior team's poor performance in the premier domestic tournaments -- Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.<br /><br />In both tournaments, Delhi failed to qualify for the knock-out stage.<br /><br />However the former Delhi right-hander came into spotlight after his heated exchange with veteran opener Gautam Gambhir as they nearly came to exchanging blows.<br /><br />Gambhir had later in an interview to PTI alleged that Bhaskar was "playing with careers of youngsters and creating divide in the dressing room".<br /><br />Gambhir was later reprimanded with a suspended sentence by a disciplinary committee headed by the same Madan Lal, who later headed the CAC which also comprised Saba Karim, Sunil Valson, Amita Sharma and journalist GS Vivek.<br /><br />Asked to explain the decision to retain Bhaskar, Lal told PTI: "We had to give Bhaskar a second chance. One year is not enough time to judge someone's capability as a coach. The committee is confident that he will do a better job this year."<br /><br />Quizzed about Bhaskar's strained relationship with a senior like Gambhir, who is expected to be selected, Lal sidestepped the issue.<br /><br />"Things like these happen sometimes but we have to move ahead in life. Hopefully, it will be better this time," said the member of the 1983 World Cup winning squad.<br /><br />Prabhakar on his part is happy to be back in the Delhi cricket fold.<br /><br />"I want to help Delhi cricket in any capacity possible. Things haven't been too well and we need to clean the mess," Prabhakar said.<br /><br />Atul Wassan was retained as the chairman of the senior selection committee along with Robin Singh Junior. With Nikhil Chopra opting out, veteran Hari Gidwani was back in the panel.<br /><br />Gambhir and Gidwani did not share a great equation during his earlier stint as selector, under Vinay Lamba's chairmanship, as they had frequent disagreements on team selection.<br /><br />Former wicketkeeper-batsman Rajeev Vinayak was entrusted with the Under-19 coach's job while Bantu Singh is back as the Under-16 coach. Hitesh Sharma has been named Under-14 coach.</p>