Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today appointed former Maharashtra player, coach and National selector Surendra Bhave as the head coach of the State Senior Men Team for the season 2024-25. He replaced former India allrounder Dinesh Mongia, under whose guidance Odisha put up a miserable performance in Ranji Trophy last season, losing four matches, winning one and drawing two.

Bhave, an opening batter, mustered 7,971 runs in 97 First Class matches before retiring in 2000-01. Besides representing India A for a SAARC tourney in 1992-93, Bhave also led Maharashtra to a rare appearance in a Ranji Trophy final in the same season.

He was a member of the National selection panel during its triumphant run in the 2011 World Cup. This will be his fifth stint and fourth team as a senior mens team head coach in domestic cricket. Besides his two stints with Maharashtra, including in 2013-14 when Maharashtra made it to the Ranji final, he has been at the helm of affairs for Haryana and Punjab teams.

Bhave has a fond memory of Odisha as he slammed his career-best first-class knock of 292 for West Zone in their Duleep Trophy match against South Zone, held at Ispat Stadium, Rourkela from 30 November to 4 December 1994.

Apart from the head coach of the State senior mens team, OCA also appointed members of the State Senior Men, Women and Junior Men Selection Committee today for the upcoming season.

Senior Men Selection Committee: Amiya Ray (Chairman), Sourajit Mohapatra, Subit Biswal (both members).

Junior Men Selection Committee: Natraj Behera (Chairman), Niranjan Behera, Subhrajit Sahoo (both members).

Women Selection Committee: Rashmita Mohanty (Chairperson), Sasmita Pattnaik, Madhusmita Mohapatra, Gangotri Behera, Subhranshubala Bhuyan (all members).