Ranji winner Dhawal Kulkarni named Mumbai's bowling mentor

Dhawal Kulkarni, who led Mumbai Ranji team's pace attack for years, was on Wednesday appointed as bowling mentor of the premier domestic side across formats for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

The announcement was made in Mumbai after a meeting of the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) apex council.

Kulkarni, who played 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India between 2014 and 2016, retired from all forms of cricket after helping Mumbai win the prestigious Ranji Trophy for a record-extending 42nd time in the previous season.

The right-arm pacer, who played an overall 96 first-class games, claimed 285 wickets while he snaffled another 223 in 130 List A games and had 154 scalps in 162 T20 matches.

The 35-year-old Kulkarni, who was recently involved as a commentator in the Indian Premier League, had hinted about the possibility of taking up a coaching role in future after his retirement in March.

"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. So everything I do in the future, it will be around cricket," Kulkarni had said after Mumbai's Ranji Trophy win at the Wankhede Stadium earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the MCA's apex council decided to felicitate legendary batter and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on his 75th birthday on July 10.

"We have appointed Dhawal Kulkarni as the bowling mentor for the upcoming season. Additionally, Mr. Amol Kale (president) proposed and the Apex Council unanimously approved to honour Mr. Sunil Gavaskar on his 75th birthday," MCA secretary Ajinkya Naik said.

It was also decided in the meeting that the MCA will release a stamp as well as a coffee table book on the occasion of the iconic Wankhede Stadium completing 50 years of existence this year.