Sulakshan Kulkarni appointed as Oman head coach

Sulakshan Kulkarni appointed as Oman Cricket team’s coach after T20 World Cup 2026. (Photo Source: Mumbai Cricket)

Former Indian domestic cricketer Sulakshan Kulkarni has been appointed as the new head coach of the Oman national cricket team, replacing veteran Sri Lankan coach Duleep Mendis. The T20 World Cup 2026 eventually became Mendis’ last assignment as Oman’s coach.

Mendis, who guided Oman in an impressive 14-year stint, has now transitioned into the role of Chief Development Officer with Oman Cricket after the ongoing T20 World Cup marked his final assignment as head coach.

During his tenure, Mendis played a significant role in the growth of Omani cricket, helping the team qualify for four editions of the T20 World Cup. However, their latest campaign ended without a win after being drawn in a challenging Group B, which included Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Ireland. They failed to win even a single contest during the group stages.

Kulkarni steps into the role after serving as Mendis’ deputy since July last year. Oman Cricket announced this decision releasing a statement.

“Duleep Mendis transitions to Chief Development Officer at Oman Cricket after 14 remarkable years at the helm, leaving behind a stellar legacy of historic milestones and taking Oman cricket to unprecedented heights. His impact on the national team and the game’s growth in the country is truly immeasurable,” Oman Cricket wrote.

Kulkarni brings extensive coaching experience from the Indian domestic circuit, having previously worked with several big teams such as Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh. As a player, the former wicketkeeper-batter featured in 65 first-class matches between 1985 and 2002, scoring 3332 runs with six centuries at an average of 38.29. Further, in 13 List-A matches, he scored 130 runs in 10 innings at a modest average of 21.66. Apart from Mumbai, he also represented Railways, Assam, and Vidarbha.

Meanwhile, Oman’s next assignment was scheduled to be the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Nepal involving the UAE and Nepal. However, the series has been postponed due to ongoing tensions in West Asia that resulted in widespread flight cancellations. With Kulkarni now taking charge, Oman will be hoping to flourish in this new chapter.

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