Ramesh Powar comes on as India women’s team head coach

Ramesh Powar on Thursday was provided a second spell as head coach of the India womenrsquos team by the BCCI despite his acrimonious exit in November 2018A fallout with seniormost player Mithali Raj led to Powarrsquos departure during the Supreme Courtappointed Committee of Administrators CoA regimePowar was chosen from over 35 applications that the BCCI received for the post He replaces WV Raman who took over from PowarThe exTest and ODI opener helped India reach the T20 World Cup final in Australia last yearlsquoPowar was never at faultrsquoS Madan Lal head of the Cricket Advisory Committee CAC comprising RP Singh and Sulakshana Naik explained why Powar was chosen unanimously ldquoHe had clear plans From whatever he said we CAC felt he could do the job He was never at fault in the Mithali saga only a player had complained There are arguments that happen sometimes but that doesnrsquot mean we can disregard his qualifications and achievements as a coach All his credentials were taken into account He has also been coaching for the last two to three yearsrdquo Madan Lal told midday from New DelhiS Madan LalPowar recently helped Mumbai win the Vijay Hazare Trophy after being appointed at short notice ldquoEven that was taken into considerationrdquo said Madan LalNot much has changed since Powar exited Mithali is still the ODI captain while Harmanpreet Kaur is the T20I skipperIt can be recalled that other senior players like Harmanpreet and Smriti Mandhana had urged the BCCI to continue with Powar but the CoA did not renew his contract bringing an end to his term Powar was first appointed as an interim coach in July 2018 before his contract was renewed till the T20 World Cup in the CaribbeanWay back then Mithali said Powar ldquowas out to destroy and humiliate herrdquo while the former India offspinner countered that Mithali threw tantrums and threatened to quit if she was not allowed to open the innings during the 2018 T20 World Cup where India lost in the semisDid the CAC take into account the PowarMithali saga ldquoKya problem tha What was the problemrdquo Madan Lal shot back ldquoHe had no issues with the players right He did not complain about the players We are aware there was some controversy but thatrsquos in the past nowrdquoEngland challengePowarrsquos immediate challenge will be the England tour where the Indian team will play a Test match after seven years June 16 to 22 at Bristol apart from three ODIs and T20Is each He will also prepare the team for next yearrsquos ICC World Cup in New ZealandMadan Lal said Powarrsquos performance will be reviewed after one year Meanwhile Powar promised to try his best to help the team achieve glory ldquoI am looking forward to take India womenrsquos cricket ahead Thanks a lot CAC amp BCCI for this opportunityrdquo he tweetedRaman tweeted a congratulatory message ldquoAll the best imrameshpowar with the BCCIWomen in this spell Look forward to seeing the girls soar under your guidancerdquoEight in the frayFour men and women candidates were shortlisted for interviews with the CACmdashPowar Raman Ajay Ratra and Hrishikesh KanitkarmdashMamtha Maben Devika Palshikar exchief selector Hemlatha Kala and former Team India assistant coach Suman Sharma ldquoEveryone looked impressive but we will be only impressed with results In interviews everybody can say lsquoI can do this and thatrsquo But when we took their interviews all three of us felt that he Powar is the best candidaterdquo concluded Madan LalAlso ReadMumbai coach Ramesh Powar lauds handson captain Prithvi Shaw14No of internationals India womenrsquos team won in a row during Ramesh Powarrsquos first stint as coach