There is some strong competition amongst the current crop of pacers to get selected for the national side. With Ishant Sharma and Bhuvnheswar Kumar injured and Mohammed Shami rested, Dhawal Kulkarni was selected for the first three matches of the New Zealand ODI series. The pacer is keen to play under new coach Anil Kumble.
Kulkarni last represented India in Zimbabwe, but the Men in Blue did not have a permanent coach then, and present batting coach Sanjay Bangar looked after the affairs of the team during the tour in June. But after the appointment of Kumble as the head coach, Kulkarni will play under the new gaffer of India cricket.
Kulkarni has already worked under the guidance of Kumble in the past. The former leggie was Mumbai Indians' mentor when Kulkarni was also part of the IPL franchise.
The pacer is hoping to learn a great deal from Kumble, who is also helping the bowlers in the team as the team does not have a bowling coach at present. Players like Kohli have already lauded how beneficial Kumble has been to the bowlers, who are receiving important tips and suggestions from one of the legends of India cricket.
"He (Kumble) was a part of the Mumbai Indians set-up when I played for them. He is one of the greatest bowlers India has ever produced, so it will be a good experience," Asian Age quoted Kulkarni as saying.
Kumble was officially appointed as the coach of the Indian team in June, and the former leggie has been spot on with the boys. They have been splendid in the longer format of the game, defeating West Indies, which was his first major assignment. India have also clinched the ongoing Test series against New Zealand after the winning the first T20 Tests. The third Test will start on Saturday.
However, under Kumble, India has not played any ODI cricket, though they featured in the T20 series against West Indies in the US, which they lost 1-0.
