WV Raman reapplies for India's head coach; Nooshin Al Khadeer, Mamatha Maben among applicants

Sportstar reported on Tuesday (April 28). It is also learnt that former India coaches Tushar Arothe and Ramesh Powar and Surendra Bhave, former national selector, have also sent in their applications.

The BCCI had invited applications for the post a fortnight ago after Raman’s contract expired last year. However, he was asked to continue till the limited overs series against South Africa, which India lost last month.

“Being the chairman of the selection committee, I had worked with all the players and I know them very well, so that experience will help me serve the team better, if given a chance,” Kala, former chair of selectors, was quoted as saying by Sportstar, confirming her application.

“I have previously served as the coach of Uttar Pradesh and Railways. So, I am confident that I will be able to coach at the highest level.”

Women’s CricZone can confirm that both Mamatha Maben and Nooshin Al Khadeer have sent their applications. Maben, who’s played four Tests and 40 ODIs for India, is the head coach of Karnataka in the domestic circuit and has also coached Supernovas in the Women’s T20 Challenge. She had also applied for the position back in 2018, before Ramesh Powar was appointed as the head coach. Maben’s ">six for ten in ODIs are the best figures for India in ODIs.

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Al Khadeer, on the other hand, has been coaching Railways and led them to the Women’s Senior One Day Trophy title last month. She has played 85 internationals for India and is the second Indian bowler to pick 100 wickets in ODIs. Jaya, former India opener, has played a Test and a T20I apart from 77 ODIs.

Under Arothe, India made the final of the Women's World Cup in 2017 and just missed winning the trophy by a whisker. With Powar at the helm, India made the semis of the Women's T20 World Cup in 2018 for the first time since 2010.

Raman, who succeeded Powar, was appointed as the head coach in December 2018 and oversaw the team’s progress to the final of the T20 World Cup last year. Just before that, India also made the final of the tri-series featuring England and Australia. India's assignment in the coming season include tours to England and Australia, apart from the Women's World Cup next year. The women in blue will also be playing a Test for the first time since 2014.

The BCCI had stated in their advertisement that the head coach will have to oversee the India A as well as the Under-19 teams, apart from the national side. The others who have applied for the post are former India player Ajay Ratra and former Mumbai cricketer and coach, Sulakshan Kulkarni.