International Cricket ⇒ Indian Coach Kotak: Focus Only on Cricket

[Em Vicky Khan]

As anticipation grows for their Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan in Dubai on September 14, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has stated that the team’s focus is cricket.

In a media interview on Friday before India’s training session, Kotak dismissed political pressures from home to boycott matches against Pakistan as distractions.

“Once the BCCI gives the nod, in alignment with the government, we are here to prepare and play,” Kotak said Friday before India’s training session. “India-Pakistan games are always competitive, so we would rather focus on that.”

I don’t think so. Once we play, the players just think about cricket. They probably have nothing else in mind. We focus on it, he said.

Kotak revealed India’s batting plans, notably for Sanju Samson in the middle order. The openers and No. 3 are predetermined, but the rest is flexible, he said.

“If you look at our batting line-up, everyone can go in at any number and finish the match,” Kotak said. These four or five active athletes can adapt to the situation. After the openers and No. 3, nothing is fixed.”

Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, and Samson can finish depending on conditions, he said.

“Maybe we have more than one finisher,” Kotak added. “Having three or four guys who can adapt anywhere is great.”

When asked about Shubman Gill’s readiness to skipper India in the Test series against West Indies immediately after the Asia Cup, Kotak said workload management policies mostly pertain to fast bowlers.

He claimed workload management is for fast bowlers. “So long as batters don’t feel overwhelmed, workload shouldn’t be an issue.”

Kotak said conditions would determine whether Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, misses matches.

The slow, twisting circumstances in Dubai were the explanation. Everyone knows there’s no agenda or preference. Captain and head coach decide what’s best for the team. Kotak determined that a team should function with non-players aiding players.

India will face Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14 in one of the tournament’s most exciting matches.