Powar takes on short-term role coaching Australia's U-19 spinners in Rajkot

Former India and Mumbai off-spinner Ramesh Powar is spending a few days with the Australian Under-19 team as a short-term coach for their spinners, lending his expertise to the young tweakers during their ongoing one-day series against India on home soil.

Powar was present at the Australian junior team's nets at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday, working closely with Australia's young spinner and passing on useful tips. He joined the squad on Saturday and will remain with the team until its final Youth ODI against India on Wednesday.

Explaining how the arrangement came about, Powar told TOI from Rajkot: "Cricket Australia had approached me quite a few months back to come and spend some time with their young spinners and guide them. I have previously also coached Australia's spinners (he went in June 2018 on an invitation from CA to coach Australia's under-23 spinners at CA's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane), so they have an idea of how I can help their young spinners. Since this was a prior commitment, I decided to spend four days with them."

Series status

The first match of the Under-19 One-day series between India and Australia took place on Friday, with India winning by seven runs. The next two matches are slated for Monday and Wednesday, with Powar present with the Australian squad until the final fixture.

BCCI selector wait continues

Powar, meanwhile, has applied for the junior selector's post with the BCCI, though the board is yet to conduct interviews for the position. Speaking to reporters after the Board's AGM on Friday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that candidates were being shortlisted, after which the Cricket Advisory Committee would interview them and complete the process over the next 15 days.

A former head coach of the India women's team, Powar most recently served as head coach of Gujarat for the last three seasons, and previously coached Mumbai to the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in March 2021.