Dhawal Kulkarni, who led the Mumbai Ranji team’s pace attack for many years, was on Wednesday appointed as the country’s premier bowling mentor across all formats for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The announcement was made here after a meeting of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) top council.
Kulkarni, who played 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India between 2014 and 2016, retired from all forms of cricket after helping Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy for a record 42nd time in the previous season.
The right-arm pacer, who has played 96 first-class games overall, has taken 285 wickets, 223 wickets in 130 List A games and 154 scalps in 162 T20 matches.
Meanwhile, the apex committee of MCA has decided to celebrate legendary batsman and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar’s 75th birthday on July 10.
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“We have appointed Dhawal Kulkarni as our bowling mentor for the upcoming season. It was also proposed by Mr. Amol Kale (Chairman) and the Apex Council unanimously approved to commemorate the 75th birthday of Mr. Sunil Gavaskar,” said MCA general secretary Ajinkya Naik.
Kulkarni, 35, who has recently been working as a commentator in the Indian Premier League, had hinted at the possibility of taking on a coaching role in the future following his retirement in March.
“I’ve never thought about it much, but cricket has given me so much that I want to apply that back to the game, whether it’s coaching or whatever role I have. So everything I do from now on will be about cricket.” Kulkarni spoke after Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy win at the Wankhede Stadium.
It was also decided at the meeting that the MCA would launch stamps and a coffee table book to mark the iconic Wankhede Stadium’s 50th anniversary this year.
