V Venkatram to coach Jharkhand Ranji team

Former Bihar captain and offspinner, V Venkatram, has been named coach of the Jharkhand Ranji team. Venkatram had previously coached the side in 2004-05 and was also the coach of Tripura in 2000.

Venkatram, who is a BCCI-accredited Level 3 coach, was brought in to replace former India pacer Subroto Banerjee in the position, after the latter cited his unavailability for the forthcoming season.

Venkatram's domestic career stretched from 1973 to 1992 during which he played 68 first-class matches and five List A games. He took 217 wickets in the longer format and five in the one-dayers.

Jharkhand have also announced that former Ranji Trophy captain Rajiv Kumar will coach the Under-19 side, while Vikas Kumar will take charge as Under-16 coach.

Jharkhand will begin this season's Ranji Trophy in Group C after being relegated due to a last-placed finish in Group A last season. The team had climbed up the ranks to Group A after their performance in the 2012-13 season, where they finished second in Group C, behind Services, and reached the quarterfinals of the tournament.