The coaching staff for the 'Rest of India' team for the Iran Cup has been determined. Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, the current head coach of Bengal and a former Indian cricketer, has been appointed as the batting coach for this team.
The 'Rest of India' team, under the guidance of Rishabh Pant, will play the Iran Cup match against Jammu and Kashmir from October 1 to 5 in Srinagar.
Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, who is 46 years old, led the Bengal team in recent seasons. In last season's Ranji Trophy tournament, the Bengal team lost to Jammu and Kashmir in the semi-finals. Now, Shukla will work with the batsmen of 'Rest of India' in the Iran Cup against the same team, Jammu and Kashmir.
Shukla has experience playing for India in three one-day matches in 1999. He was also part of the KKR team that won the IPL title, playing there in 2012, and in his last season, he played for Delhi Capitals in 2014.
The appointment as batting coach for the 'Rest of India' team is his first assignment from the BCCI. Debashish Mohanty will take the post of bowling coach, and Milap Mewara will take the post of fielding coach in the 'Rest of India' coaching staff.
The full squad for the 'Rest of India' team includes: Rishabh Pant (captain, wicket-keeper), Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Garami, Sarfaraz Khan (vice-captain), AR Samran, Manav Sutar, Saransh Jain, Akash Dip*, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Juyal (white-keeper), Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, and Ayush Dosija. However, Akash Dip's selection will depend on his physical condition.