Will KSCA Honor Sunil Joshi by Naming Pavilion at Hubballi Stadium?
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New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) announced on Saturday that it will officially designate the Pavilion Block at its Rajnagar facility in Hubballi in honor of former Indian left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi. This recognition highlights his significant contributions to both state and national cricket teams.
The ceremony is scheduled for 12 noon and will coincide with the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final, featuring Karnataka against Jammu & Kashmir. The decision reflects a profound respect and admiration for Sunil Joshi’s illustrious cricketing career and his lasting impact on cricket in North Karnataka.
Sunil Joshi, hailing from Gadag district, developed much of his early cricketing skills in Hubballi. Naming the Pavilion Block after him serves as a fitting tribute to one of Karnataka’s most esteemed cricketing figures.
As stated by the KSCA, "The naming of the Pavilion Block in his honor will not only celebrate his achievements but also inspire young cricketers who will grace the Hubballi field in the future." The event will feature notable attendees, including KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, and Santosh Lad, the district in-charge minister for Hubballi-Dharwad.
Sunil Joshi represented India in 15 Tests and 69 ODIs from 1996 to 2001 and was a pivotal player in the Karnataka team. He also served as chief selector for two years, including during India's 2-1 Test series victory in Australia in 2020/21. In total, he was part of the selection committee from March 2020 to early 2023.
Additionally, he coached the Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh teams in domestic cricket and served as the spin bowling coach for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL. Currently, he is the spin bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and held the role of bowling coach during India's U19 Men's Cricket World Cup victory in Harare earlier this month.