Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 17: Hailing from picturesque Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir, ace cricketer Mithun Manhas is among the shortlisted candidates who have applied for the post of batting coach for iconic Virat Kohli-led Indian Cricket team.
The other candidates shortlisted for this job include Vikram Rathour, Lalchand Rajput, Pravin Amre, Thilan Samaraweera, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Amol Muzumdar, J Arun Kumar, Mark Ramprakash, Shib Sunder Das, Jonathan Trott, John Lewis and Sanjay Bangar.
Manhas has the distinction of being among the top four run-getters in Indian domestic cricket along with the likes of seasoned Test cricketer Wasim Jaffer.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had appointed the former Delhi skipper and J&K’s iconic cricketer Mithun Manhas as the assistant coach in a bid to win their maiden IPL title.
Mithun is among four top four run getters in Indian First Class Cricket, with 8554 runs only behind the trio of veteran Wasim Jaffer (11225), Amol Muzumdar (9202) and Devendra Bundela (9201).
A veteran of many battles, who represented various IPL teams for seven seasons as player including Chennai Super Kings more than once, Manhas has the honour of being the assistant coach of Kings XI Punjab last but one season and Head coach of Bangladesh Under-19 team, besides being coach cum player of J&K team in 2016-17 season.
Apart from awe-inspiring performances for Delhi Ranji Trophy as skipper and player, Manhas has the distinction of helping North Zone win Deodhar Trophy title with back to back hundreds as stand-in skipper in absence of injured Dinesh Mongia.
While talking to EXCELSIOR, Manhas said that with Rathours, Rajputs, Amres, Saamarweeras, Bangars, Trotts and Ramprakashs in the fray, it is an uphill task to get the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) nod for the batting coach’s post, adding that finding his name among such greats is an ecstatic feeling.