Former Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League regular Sitanshu Kotak has been named as India's new batting coach.

The 52-year-old who spent 20 seasons between 1996 and 2016 as Kenilworth Wardens' overseas' pro, joined Gautam Gambhir's coaching group ahead of the T20 series between India and England.

Remarkably Kotak's first spell in international cricket pitches him against an England squad containing Warwickshire's Jacob Bethell who also appeared for the Glasshouse Park club in the BDPCL while at Rugby School.

During his long spell in the Birmingham League Kotak was recognised as one of the top all-rounders in Midlands cricket with his flighted left-arm spin being every bit as significant as the gritty batting with which he made his name in Indian state cricket.

Kotak represented Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy from 1992 to 2013 when he was aged 41 as well as playing for West Zone in India's Duleep Trophy inter-zonal competition and being capped by India A.

During this time he built a formidable reputation as captain of his home state and as an old-style accumulator of over 8,000 first-class runs whose nickname 'Fevicol' was based on his batting having the same 'stickability' as India's highest-selling superglue!

Since retiring as a player Kotak has pursued a coaching career that has taken in spells with his home state, the National Cricket Academy in Bengalaru and IPL franchise Gujarat Titans before being head coach on India's A tours to Bangladesh, South Africa and Australia.

He also led a senior India tour to Ireland in 2023 when Jasprit Bumrah captained a team missing a number of resting senior players and coaches.

According to the Times of India, Kotak was added to the Indian coaching ticket at the request of Gambhir following his team's difficult tour of Australia.