Dinesh Karthik, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter from Team India, is set to share his expertise on Indian pitch conditions as he joins the England Lions as a batting consultant, as confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Karthik’s inclusion in the coaching framework is slated for the initial nine days of the tour, leveraging his rich experience from representing Tamil Nadu in the ongoing domestic season and his recent participation in the 2022 T20 World Cup for India.
Moreover, his association with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his evolving career in broadcasting highlight his multifaceted contributions to the cricketing world. In his consultancy role, Karthik will collaborate closely with head coach Neil Killeen and the permanent assistants Richard Dawson and Carl Hopkinson.
His insights into the specificities of Indian playing conditions are expected to provide invaluable guidance to the squad. Furthermore, former England spinner Graeme Swann will complement the coaching team as a mentor during the tour. Karthik’s involvement also serves to augment the coaching expertise, particularly with Ian Bell, the Lions’ batting consultant, slated to join the squad post his commitments with the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Meanwhile, Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon will steer the 15-member squad as captain, featuring an exciting blend of established England Test players like Alex Lees, Matt Potts, and Matt Fisher, coupled with emerging talents such as James Rew from Somerset and Ollie Price from Gloucestershire.
Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled India ‘A’ squads for a forthcoming warm-up encounter and the inaugural multi-day match against England Lions. Abhimanyu Easwaran will captain the side for the two-day fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium Ground ‘B’ from January 12-13, followed by a four-day match on the primary grounds from January 17-20.
The India ‘A’ roster further boasts the inclusion of wicketkeepers KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel, complemented by domestic luminaries like Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Sai Sudharsan.
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