Laxmi Ratan Shukla named Rest of India batting coach for Irani Cup

Current Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been appointed batting coach of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar from October 1 to 5. Shukla has been Bengal's head coach for the past few seasons and the team lost in the semifinals to Jammu and Kashmir during the last edition of the Ranji Trophy. The 46-year-old former Bengal skipper played three ODIs for India in 1999 and represented the IPL championship-winning Kolkata Knight Riders side.

This is Shukla's first BCCI assignment. Debasish Mohanty will serve as the ROI side's bowling coach and Milap Mewada is the fielding coach. The five-day fixture carries added significance as Jammu and Kashmir earned hosting rights after winning their first Ranji Trophy title last season.

Shukla will work with the Rest of India batters as they prepare to face the same Jammu and Kashmir unit that eliminated his Bengal team in the semifinals. The appointment marks a meaningful progression in his coaching career after several seasons guiding Bengal through Ranji Trophy campaigns.