Sulakshan Kulkarni Takes Over as Oman Men's Cricket Head Coach
In a significant development for international cricket, former Mumbai wicketkeeper Sulakshan Kulkarni has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Oman men's national cricket team. The announcement was made by Oman Cricket on Saturday through their official social media channels, marking a new chapter for the team's leadership.
Transition from Deputy to Head Coach Role
Kulkarni, who previously served as Oman's deputy head coach during the 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, steps into the top coaching position vacated by former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Duleep Mendis. Mendis, after an impressive 14-year tenure at the helm of Oman cricket, has been reassigned to the newly created position of Chief Development Officer at Oman Cricket.
The organization acknowledged Mendis's substantial contributions in their announcement, stating he leaves behind "a stellar legacy of historic milestones and taking Oman cricket to unprecedented heights." They emphasized that his impact on both the national team and the overall growth of cricket within the country has been truly immeasurable.
Kulkarni's Immediate Challenges and Objectives
Speaking to Times of India from Oman, Kulkarni expressed both honor and awareness of the responsibility ahead. "It's a big shoe to fill in. Mendis sir has played a very huge role in shaping Oman cricket. I thank Oman cricket for the opportunity to serve as a head coach," he stated.
His primary immediate task will be to guide Oman through the qualification process for the 50-over World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa next year. The team is set to compete in several crucial ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Tri-nation series, with matches scheduled in Nepal and Namibia next month.
This appointment comes at a critical juncture following Oman's disappointing performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where they suffered defeats in all four of their matches against Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Ireland.
Extensive Coaching Experience and Background
Sulakshan Kulkarni brings a wealth of coaching experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as the head coach of the Maharashtra Ranji team during the 2024-25 season. His extensive coaching portfolio includes previous head coach positions with multiple prominent Indian domestic teams:
- Mumbai
- Tamil Nadu
- Vidarbha
- Chhattisgarh
As a former Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter himself, Kulkarni played 65 First-Class matches and 13 List A games during his playing career. He has already demonstrated his coaching prowess by guiding Mumbai to its 40th Ranji Trophy title in the 2012-13 season while serving as the team's head coach.
The cricket community will be watching closely as Kulkarni implements his strategies and working methods to elevate Oman's performance on the international stage, particularly with World Cup qualification as the immediate priority.
