Who Is Saurabh Walkar? Ranji Champion Analyst Roped In By Nz For World Cup 2023: Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy team’s performance analyst, Saurabh Walkar, has joined the New Zealand team for the ODI World Cup 2023. Walkar’s tenure with the Kiwis commences on August 30 during a T20 series against England. However, the World Cup in India from October 5 will be his primary assignment. His main task involves preparing Tom Latham’s team for the spin-friendly pitches prevalent in the sub-continent.
Walkar, currently working with the Jos Buttler-led Manchester Originals in The Hundred, voiced his excitement about joining the New Zealand squad. He looks forward to helping the team prepare thoroughly for the World Cup. “Indian pitches will play an important role, so I will be focusing on that aspect. These wickets will play a major role while formulating strategies. It’s a big opportunity for me to be a part of the NZ team,” Walkar told mid-day from Cardiff.
The experienced analyst has commenced preparations, with a specific emphasis on India. New Zealand anticipates valuable input about Indian players from Walkar. “I had worked with Rohit [Sharma], Surya [Yadav], Shardul [Thakur], and other players during my stint with the Mumbai senior team. I will also prepare myself for the biggest tournament and assist NZ head coach, Gary Stead,” he added.
Who Is Saurabh Walkar? Ranji Champion Analyst Roped In By NZ for World Cup 2023
With an engineering background, Walkar switched his focus to sports in 2006 and undertook a one-year course in sports biomechanics in Chennai. His first stint was with Mumbai as an intern, assisting performance analyst Venkatesh Gurumurthy in 2007. With an eight-year of experience with the Mumbai team, Walkar is well-versed with the rigours of the job. Besides Mumbai, his portfolio includes working with the Rajasthan Royals and the Afghanistan team during the 2021 World Cup. At 38, Walkar has amassed considerable experience as a performance analyst.
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His optimism and preparedness for the New Zealand assignment are evident. “I have started my preparation on all teams, especially India. They [NZ] are expecting special inputs about Indian players from me. I will also prepare myself for the biggest tournament and assist NZ head coach, Gary Stead,” he reiterated.
New Zealand will kick off their World Cup 2023 campaign against England on October 5 in Ahmedabad. They will face India later, on October 22 in Dharamsala. With Walkar’s expertise in analysing Indian pitches and understanding the local players, the Kiwis hope to navigate the tournament’s challenges efficiently. Undoubtedly, his knowledge will be a key asset to the New Zealand team in the forthcoming ODI World Cup.
