Karnataka coach Sanath heads for Baroda

BANGALORE: In a severe jolt to Karnataka cricket, the senior team's coach for the last two seasons, K Sanath Kumar, has been roped in by Ranji Trophy runners-up Baroda with a two-year contract ahead of the upcoming domestic action.
Sanath, who has been instrumental in Karnataka's upward journey in the past two years, particularly their runners-up show in the 2009-10 Ranji season, will take up the job next month.
Coincidentally, it was Baroda who halted Karnataka's unbeaten campaign in the last Ranji season, with a narrow victory in a low-scoring semifinal encounter.
Sanath, a coach with National Cricket Academy, has been popular among the players for his calm approach which yielded big results for the state side.
The Mangalorean has been instrumental in honing the skills of many youngsters who have gone on to sizzle for Karnataka, particularly international Abhimanyu Mithun, who made his first class debut during Sanath's tenure.
A coach who has come up the ladder through coaching junior sides in the state, the former paceman has trained the Assam Ranji side and also been in the support staff of senior Indian women's cricket team during its England tour three years back.
Sanath said he had informed the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary Javagal Srinath and president Anil Kumble about the exit.
"It was a huge offer money-wise. I spoke to Anil and Srinath about it and they wanted me to continue with Karnataka. However, they mentioned that the budgetary allowance of the association wasn't enough to match the offer I had received from Baroda. So the decision was left to me and I didn't think twice about it," Sanath told TOI.
Though Sanath didn't disclose the financial part of the new deal, it is learnt that it could be clubbed among the best for domestic coaches in the country.
It may be recalled that Sanath had ended his two-year association as assistant coach with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the fourth edition, apparently falling out with the franchisee over money matters.
Sanath was in charge of the team's uncapped domestic players and had travelled to South Africa for the second IPL edition and the Champions League.
Sanath's exit from RCB was low key with former Indian pace bowler and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad replacing him. Kumble, the chief mentor of the IPL franchisee, has been an influential figure in the team's out-of-auction signings including that of the support staff.