Mumbai appoint Dhawal Kulkarni as bowling mentor for upcoming season

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to appoint former India pacer Dhawal Kulkarni as their bowling mentor for all age group teams for the upcoming domestic season. The decision comes shortly after Kulkarni announced his retirement from cricket following Mumbai's 42nd Ranji Trophy title win in March 2024.

Kulkarni hung up his boots after an illustrious 16-year domestic career that saw him take 285 wickets in 96 First-Class matches. He was equally prolific in white-ball cricket, claiming 223 wickets in 130 List A games and 154 wickets in 162 T20s. The right-arm pacer also represented India in 12 ODIs and two T20Is, taking 19 and three wickets, respectively.

After an emotional Ranji final against Vidarbha, the 35-year-old expressed his desire to give back to the game that gave him so much. 

“I've not thought about it much but cricket has given me so much that I want to give it back to the game, whether it be coaching or whatever role that I get. I want to give it back to cricket. So, everything I do in the future, it will be around cricket," he said in the post-match press conference.

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Decided to appoint Dhawal Kulkarni as bowling mentor: Ajinkya Naik

Addressing the media, MCA secretary Ajinkya Naik confirmed Kulkarni's appointment as bowling mentor. 

“We have decided to appoint Dhawal Kulkarni as bowling mentor for the upcoming season. At the same time, Amol Kale (MCA president) proposed, and the Apex Council unanimously approved to felicitate Sunil Gavaskar on the occasion of his 75th birthday,” MCA secretary Ajinkya Naik told TOI.

This is not the first time MCA has honored Mumbai's cricketing greats. In 2021, they gifted Gavaskar a special box on completing 50 years in international cricket.

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Last year, they constructed a statue of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th birthday. The association had also named a stand at Wankhede Stadium after former captain Dilip Vengsarkar in 2021.