VIDARBHA Cricket Association has appointed former captain and coach Pritam Gandhe as coach of Vidarbha senior team for the season opening national Twenty20 cricket tournament for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that gets under way in Indore on January 10, 2021. The appointment was necessitated as Trevor Gonsalves, who was named coach for the event, tested positive for COVID-19. Gonsalves’ report came after one of the tests that was conducted by VCA for its players and support staff who will be participating in the forthcoming tourney.

 

No player has tested positive. Gandhe brings to the Vidarbha team a huge amount of rich experience as a player, captain and coach. Though one cannot question credentials of Gandhe, who has always given his best for Vidarbha, Gonsalves was in the scheme of things for last few years training the Vidarbha Under-23 boys and helping them to their maiden Col CK Nayudu Trophy earlier this year. And with most of the players in the present senior squad graduating from the U-23 and junior sides, Gonsalves was the right choice as he understood them well. But fate has played a cruel joke with the former Vidarbha pacer who was elevated as coach for the Twenty20 event.

 

With Chandrakant Pandit leaving Vidarbha after three seasons, Vidarbha did not appoint any coach for the senior team as most of the year was consumed by COVID-19. Vidarbha, who take on Rajasthan on January 10 in their Group D tour opener at Indore, will depart for the venue on January 2. VCA has also instructed its selectors to select four more players since BCCI has now allowed a total of 22 players in each team. VCA has also appointed a team doctor and is maintaining all necessary protocols to ensure safety and welfare of its players and support staff.