Ravi Shastri's Right Hand Takes Up Gautam Gambhir Management's Job For Indian Cricket

Ravi Shastri and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]

The Gautam Gambhir-led management recently faced massive scrutiny following India's dismal performance on their UK tour. After being whitewashed by Ireland, the Indian team managed a solitary win across eight white-ball matches in England. 

While most of their key batters failed to live up to expectations, the Indian team was let down by their fast bowlers, especially in the ODI leg. An injury to Jasprit Bumrah significantly weakened the Indian bowling attack, as they conceded 387 runs while scalping only three wickets in the ODI series decider at Lord's. 

India's lacklustre bowling performance highlighted why they should sense the urgency to groom quality fast bowlers for the future. 

Although the scouting and development of young fast bowlers is primarily the job of the Indian management, Ravi Shastri's right-hand man, Bharat Arun, has taken the responsibility for the long-term betterment of Indian cricket. 

Bharat Arun launches major initiative to nurture Indian pacers

Former fast bowler Bharat Arun served as India's bowling coach during Ravi Shastri's tenure as the head coach of the team. Working alongside Shastri and the then Indian captain Virat Kohli, Arun played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian fast bowling unit. 

Apart from helping Ishant Sharma discover his mojo, Bharat Arun thoroughly guided Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. He is also credited for the evolution of Mohammed Siraj, as he developed the Hyderabad pacer under his wings. 

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After bidding adieu to the Indian team in 2021, Bharat Arun established an academy named 'Coaching Beyond', which serves as an institution for the holistic development of fast bowlers.

Furthermore, as revealed by the Indian Express, Bharat Arun is all set to launch an initiative, which will focus on identifying and nurturing promising fast bowling prospects from across the country. 

Bharat Arun reveals his plan

Arun, who served as India's bowling coach from 2017 to 2021, revealed that his aim is to not only scout talented pacers but also groom them as valuable assets for the Indian team. 

Technically, the Gautam Gambhir-led management should've played an active role in this regard. However, once Ravi Shastri's trusted soldier, Bharat Arun, has taken the responsibility to arrange the education, lodging and coaching facilities for the budding talents apart from conditioning them with appropriate physical and mental training.

Speaking to the Indian Express, Arun reckoned that he would target bowlers specifically belonging to the 18-22 age group and nurture them into workhorses, just like he fine-tuned Mohammed Siraj into an all-weather talisman for India. 

"Siraj is a wonderful story for other young upcoming fast bowlers to emulate. And in our own way, we want to do something from Coaching Beyond. It’s not only a challenge to us, but it’s also, I think, one way of doing something for Indian cricket. And more than anything else, to pick a talented boy and to give him the right kind of inputs at the right time. Inputs, I mean not only technical inputs, it’s going to be tactical, it’s going to be physical, it’s also mental,” Bharat Arun was quoted as saying by Indian Express. 

"We are thinking of getting a sponsor to pick at least a dozen fast bowlers and look to give them scholarships, where we take care of their education, boarding and lodging, and also give them full-time coaching,” he added. 

Why Has Bharat Arun taken the initiative?

While Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff are actively guiding the Indian players, Bharat Arun aims to contribute to the team's success from the sidelines. Given that fitness is a non-negotiable factor to succeed in modern day cricket, India need a vast pool of talented fast bowlers so that they can properly manage their workload by rotating them as per their convenience. 

Arun believes India can be developed into a hub of quality fast bowlers only if the promising talents are identified and nurtured in time. 

"This country has a lot of fast bowlers around. And most of these fast bowlers around the country do not have the facilities. Sometimes there are bowlers who come from different backgrounds, and they are not able to afford it. Or they do not have access to any good inputs to hone their skills,"

Therefore, as the former coach put it, his organisation is not only trying to scout those talents but also maximise their output. 

"I think there is room to do a lot of work around all this to contribute more towards the development of cricket in the country. It’s not just the Indian team. I think everybody needs a specific time with the Indian team to do that. But there is a different kind of challenge. Bharat Arun concluded. 

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