Kevin Pietersen Ready to Become India's Batting Coach as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Others Continue to Struggle

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has gone public regarding his interest in accepting the position of batting coach for India, as there have been several discussions on strengthening the Indian cricket coaching staff in recent times. After India faced dismal performances from senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as criticism against the current support team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is said to consider an addition in the form of a batting expert into their structure.

Kevin Pietersen Comes Out

The current member of the SA20 broadcasting team in South Africa, Kevin Pietersen, made the headlines by stating his availability for the role of India's batting coach. He came out with his statement just hours after reports came out on Wednesday night that the BCCI was thinking of making some changes to the coaching set-up. The board is said to be looking to appoint a new addition to head coach Gautam Gambhir's support staff to handle batting, according to Cricbuzz.

Although the BCCI hasn't yet officially announced the selection, the debate for the candidacy has gained volume. Pietersen's reputation as a very good batsman and his recent experience as a commentary expert in Indian Premier League also makes him stand out in that list, even if he does not have experience as a professional coach at any level.

The Career of Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen is considered one of the most talented batsmen produced by England. During his glorious career, he appeared in 104 Test matches, scoring 8,181 runs with an average of 47.28. With 23 Test centuries, he is third on the list of England's all-time centurions, behind Joe Root (36) and Alastair Cook (33). Pietersen's white-ball cricket prowess was not much behind. In 136 ODIs, he had 4,440 runs at an average of 40.73, while in T20Is, he managed 1,176 runs at a striking rate of 140.

Despite all these accomplishments, Pietersen has never coached a top-level cricket team. Still, his in-depth knowledge of the game, especially batting, and his acquaintance with Indian conditions due to IPL can make him a good candidate for the Indian coaching staff.

Current Coaching Structure and Issues

Gautam Gambhir has chosen not to have a specialist batting coach as part of his support staff. Instead, he has appointed two assistant coaches: Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate. Both have good credentials, with Nayar being known for his batting coaching expertise in domestic cricket and the IPL.

But India's recent setbacks in Test cricket have led many to question whether the current structure is adequate, what with the embarrassing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand and then a 1-3 series loss to Australia. It's not the first time that Kohli, like some other prominent batters, has got himself out in familiar ways.

A review meeting was held in Mumbai on January 11, which reportedly discussed the support structure for the team. Indications are that enhancing the batting coaching staff was a key consideration. The specifics of the discussion are not clear, but the possibility of bringing in an additional expert seems to be on the table.

The Need for a Batting Coach

This demand for a batting coach arises from the consistent underperformance of India's top-order batters in crucial matches. The team has faced significant setbacks as stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are unable to maintain consistency. Analysts believe that a specialized coach could help address technical flaws, build confidence, and provide tailored guidance to these players.

At such a time, Kevin Pietersen's offer has come as India is being under pressure to get its batting game right in a big way as the major events like Champions Trophy are looming closer. Being an experienced world-class batter, Kevin Pietersen is known for guiding players under intense pressure, and the Indian dressing room might well require a different sort of refreshing attitude.

What Lies Ahead

The final decision on the batting coach will be left to the BCCI, who have not confirmed whether they will pursue the idea. However, Pietersen's proactive approach and his reputation as one of the most stylish and fearless batters of his era have added an exciting dimension to the ongoing discussions.

Whether or not Pietersen takes up that role, however, the discussion is likely to carry on around how important that specialist coaching seems to be within cricket today. Improvement of this support staff seems set to hold key for India in restoring the dominance once associated with cricket as a great power sport.

For now, the cricketing world waits to see whether the BCCI will take up Pietersen's offer and if his expertise could help India's batting giants rediscover their form.