I have always been open to talks: Ramesh Powar after reapplying for India women’s head coach post

Powar is willing to bury the hatchet with Mithali, the ODI captain of the side.

Ramesh Powar, the controversial former India women’s interim coach, whose term ended on November 30 in the aftermath of the Mithali Raj omission in the ICC Women’s World T20 semi-final against England, has re-applied for the vacant post.

The BCCI has invited applications for the position of national women’s coach earlier this month with December 14 (5pm) set as the deadline for the applications.

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Powar’s term ended under controversial circumstances after Mithali’s letter to the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) was leaked following her axing from the squad.

READ: Mithali Raj’s full letter to BCCI – I couldn’t control my tears having given it my all for 20 years

Powar, a former India offspinner, hit back and said that Mithali threatened to retire if she was not given the opening slot in the batting order.

The Mithali-Powar row has also created a rift in the two-member CoA with Diana Edulji backing Powar, who has also received support from T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.

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In fact, Kaur and Mandhana too had sent emails to the BCCI which were subsequently leaked to the media. In their letter, the duo brought to the fore the growth of the team under Powar.

“After seeing Harman and Smriti’s backing, I’ve decided to re-apply. Rather, I felt it was my duty to apply as I did not want to disappoint them if they believe in this kind of coaching. Rest is, obviously, in BCCI’s hands,” Powar told Cricbuzz.

ALSO READ: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana back Ramesh Powar; women’s team split on coach

“In fact, a lot of girls have spoken good about me and I didn’t feel like letting them down.”

Under Powar, who has been at the helm of affairs for three months, the Indian women’s team have registered a series sweep in Sri Lanka, beat Australia A 3-0 in Mumbai, won all their three official and unofficial warm-up matches of the ICC Women’s World T20 following which they topped Group B.

ALSO READ: Ramesh Powar concedes to having “strained relationship” with Mithali Raj

Powar feels he has more to contribute which is why he has re-applied for the post. “I hope we can carry forward all the good work we’ve done so far. Hopefully, that won’t go waste. Hopefully, we can build on all the positive cricket we’ve played and the hard work we’ve put in these three months as we build for the future,” he said.

While there seems to be clearly a cold war going on between Powar and Mithali, the former is willing to bury the hatchet with Mithali, the ODI captain of the side.

ALSO READ: You cannot drop someone like Mithali Raj: Sunil Gavaskar

“I’m not reading into it at all. I’m looking at a team, 15 players and not any individual,” Powar said when asked about working with Mithali once again.

“It’s for the betterment of the women’s team, and I’ll do whatever it takes. Simple as that. There are a lot of positive vibes around that group of people and in the team on the whole. And I’ve been and will always be open to talks.

“I never have closed the door on anyone, for that matter. I was always open to communication, from Day 1 to the last day of my contract. And going forward it will be the same.”