imported>Mrcricketer at 16:39, 2 September 2021

2021-09-02T16:39:43Z

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{{short description|Indian cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Mukesh Narula
| image =
| country = Canada
| fullname = Mukesh Shamsunder Narula
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1962|9|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| family =
| role = [[All-rounder]]
| club1 = [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]]
| year1 = 1985–1996
| club2 = [[West Zone cricket team|West Zone]]
| year2 = 1989–1994
| columns = 2
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches1 = 57
| runs1 = 2,373
| bat avg1 = 33.42
| 100s/50s1 = 5/9
| top score1 = 176
| deliveries1 = 6,944
| wickets1 = 104
| bowl avg1 = 32.47
| fivefor1 = 6
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/80
| catches/stumpings1 = 32/-
| column2 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches2 = 19
| runs2 = 138
| bat avg2 = 17.25
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 27*
| deliveries2 = 910
| wickets2 = 27
| bowl avg2 = 25.07
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 3/37
| catches/stumpings2 = 3/-
| date = 25 April
| year = 2015
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/18257.html CricketArchive
}}
'''Mukesh Shamsunder Narula''' (born 2 September 1962) is a former Indian [[cricket]]er who was the coach of the [[Canada national cricket team|Canadian national side]]. His domestic career as an [[all-rounder]] for [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]] spanned from 1985 to 1996, and included a number of matches for [[West Zone cricket team|West Zone]] in the [[Duleep Trophy|Duleep]] and [[Deodhar Trophy|Deodhar Trophies]]. Prior to being appointed coach of Canada in August 2014, Narula had briefly served as Baroda's senior coach, as well as coaching the [[Canada national under-19 cricket team|Canadian under-19 team]].

==Playing career==
Although born in [[Delhi]],<ref name="ca">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/18257.html Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula was raised in [[Vadodara]], and played all his representative cricket for Baroda teams.<ref>(7 August 2014). [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Barodian-comes-to-Canada-crickets-rescue/articleshow/39795551.cms "Barodian comes to Canada cricket's rescue"] – ''The Times of India''. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> During his time at the [[University of Baroda]], where he graduated in 1984, he played regularly in inter-university matches.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/Miscellaneous_Matches.html Miscellaneous matches played by Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula made his [[Ranji Trophy]] debut for Baroda's senior side during the 1985–86 season,<ref name="fc">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> and in his fourth and final match, against [[Saurashtra cricket team|Saurashtra]] in January 1986, scored a maiden [[first-class cricket|first-class]] century, an even 100 [[not out]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46810.html Saurashtra v Baroda], Ranji Trophy 1985/86 (West Zone) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Coming in seventh in the batting order, he put on 161 runs for the sixth wicket with [[Sanjay Hazare]], which {{as of|April 2015|lc=y}} remains a record for Baroda–Saurashtra matches.<ref name="bs">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/India/Firstclass/Baroda/Partnership_Records/Highest_Partnerships_Baroda_v_Saurashtra.html Highest partnerships for Baroda against Saurashtra] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula scored another century, 105, in the following season's Ranji Trophy fixture against Saurashtra, and his 209-run fifth-wicket partnership with [[Tushar Arothe]] set another record for Baroda–Saurashtra matches.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/47/47993.html Baroda v Saurashtra], Ranji Trophy 1986/87 (West Zone) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> That was his only century of the 1986–87 season, and he similarly scored just a single century during the 1987–88 season, 102 against [[Gujarat cricket team|Gujarat]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/49/49449.html Baroda v Gujarat], Ranji Trophy 1987/88 (West Zone) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref>

A right-arm medium pacer, Narula rarely bowled early in his career, taking only five wickets in his first four Ranji Trophy seasons (and two wickets in an innings only once).<ref name="fcws">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/f_Bowling_by_Season.html First-class bowling in each season by Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> However, during the 1989–90 season Narula's six Ranji matches yielded 15 wickets, taken at an [[Bowling average|average]] of 27.26. He was Baroda's leading wicket-taker, with only [[Shaukat Dukanwala]], a future [[United Arab Emirates national cricket team|United Arab Emirates]] ODI player, bowling more overs.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/1/Ranji_Trophy_1989-90/Baroda_Bowling.html Bowling for Baroda, Ranji Trophy 1989/90] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Against [[Mumbai cricket team|Bombay]], Narula took a maiden five-wicket haul, 5/75, opening the bowling with ex-Test player [[Rashid Patel]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52137.html Baroda v Bombay], Ranji Trophy 1989/90 (West Zone) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Although in the same match he was out for a [[Duck (cricket)|duck]], in the previous game against [[Maharashtra cricket team|Maharashtra]] he had made what was to be the highest score of his career, an innings of 176 runs made over exactly six hours at the crease.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52112.html Maharashtra v Baroda], Ranji Trophy 1989/90 (West Zone) - CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> At the time, Narula's innings was the highest by a Baroda number-six batsman, though it was surpassed by [[Kiran More]]'s 180 during the 1996–97 season.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/India/Firstclass/Baroda/Batting_Records/Highest_Score_Each_Position_For.html Highest score in each position for Baroda] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref>

Narula's Ranji Trophy performances during the 1989–90 season secured a maiden [[Duleep Trophy]] appearance.<ref name="fc"/> Appearing for West Zone against [[South Zone cricket team|South Zone]] at [[Bangalore]]'s [[M. Chinnaswamy Stadium]], he made little impact on the game, which saw South Zone compile 665 and West Zone all out for 465.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52212.html South Zone v West Zone], Duleep Trophy 1989/90 (Semi-Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula again appeared for West Zone the following season, though in the [[Limited-overs cricket|limited-overs]] [[Deodhar Trophy]] rather than in the Duleep Trophy. He began the tournament with 3/37 from nine overs in the quarter-final against [[Central Zone cricket team|Central Zone]],<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/53/53725.html West Zone v Central Zone], Deodhar Trophy 1990/91 (Quarter-Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> took another wicket in the semi-final against [[North Zone cricket team|North Zone]], and then finished with 3/57 in the final against [[East Zone cricket team|East Zone]], including the final wicket of the match to secure West Zone's victory. His most notable wicket in the final was that of future India captain [[Sourav Ganguly]], who he had caught for 125, while his West Zone teammates had included [[Ravi Shastri]], [[Sanjay Manjrekar]], [[Dilip Vengsarkar]], [[Sachin Tendulkar]], and [[Vinod Kambli]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/53/53745.html West Zone v East Zone], Deodhar Trophy 1990/91 (Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref>

Narula was one of Baroda's strongest bowlers during the early 1990s, with 20 wickets during the 1992–93 season and 17 during both the 1991–92 and 1993–94 season.<ref name="fcws"/> His most notable bowling performance during this time was 5/48 for West Zone in the final of the 1991–92 Duleep Trophy, though this was not enough to prevent his team losing the game by 236 runs.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/55/55379.html West Zone v North Zone], Duleep Trophy 1991/92 (Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Later seasons saw returns of 6/92 (against Saurashtra in 1992–93), 6/101 (against Maharashtra in 1993–94), and 6/80 (against Saurashtra in 1994–95), with the last performance being a career best.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/f_Bowling_by_Opponent.html First-class bowling against each opponent by Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula's 1993–94 season yielded 320 runs from a combined eight Ranji and Duleep Trophy matches.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/f_Batting_by_Season.html First-class batting and fielding in each season by Mukesh Narula] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Although he averaged 40.00 for the season, his only score over 50 came in the Ranji quarter-final against [[Punjab cricket team (India)|Punjab]], an innings of 131 from 343 balls that was made from eighth in the batting order and lasted almost seven hours.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58617.html Baroda v Punjab], Ranji Trophy 1993/94 (Quarter-Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula's final first-class appearance was a one-off game for Baroda during the 1996–97 season, by which time he was 34.<ref name="fc"/> He finished his career with 2,373 runs and 104 wickets from 57 first-class games.<ref name="ca"/> During the Indian off-season, Narula had played several seasons of club cricket in [[Northern Ireland]], appearing as a professional for the [[Drummond Cricket Club]].<ref name="sn">Justin Robertson (24 September 2014). [http://www.sportsnet.ca/cricket/new-cricket-canada-coach-focusing-on-youth/ "New Cricket Canada coach focusing on youth"] – Sportsnet. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref>

In February 2020, he was named in Canada's squad for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.over50scricket.com/world-cup-scores-squads-news |title=2020 over-50s world cup squads |work=Over-50s Cricket World Cup |accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13612;team=6720;type=tournament |title=Over-50s Cricket World Cup, 2019/20 - Canada Over-50s: Batting and bowling averages |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref> However, the tournament was cancelled during the third round of matches due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/over-50s-world-cup-in-south-africa-cancelled-due-to-covid-19-outbreak/62521.htm |title=Over-50s World Cup in South Africa cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak |work=Cricket World |accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
Having worked in management positions with [[Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited]] (IPCL) outside of cricket,<ref>[http://mukeshnarula.com/aboutus.aspx About Mukesh] – MukeshNarula.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> Narula's first major coaching role came when he was appointed coach of the Baroda under-19 side for the 2007–08 season. Baroda won the [[Cooch Behar Trophy]] (the under-19 equivalent of the Ranji Trophy) for the first time during that season, and he subsequently secured a role as batting consultant with the [[Mumbai Indians]] for the [[2009 Indian Premier League|2009 IPL season]]. Following the resignation of [[Paras Mhambrey]] in January 2010, Narula (previously an assistant to Mhambrey) was appointed senior coach of Baroda for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.<ref>Tushar Tere (14 December 2009). [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/-BCA-to-begin-hunt-for-new-Ranji-coach-for-Baroda/articleshow/5328145.cms? "BCA to begin hunt for new Ranji coach for Baroda"] – ''The Times of India''. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> He was re-appointed senior coach for the 2010–11 season, also coaching West Zone during the same season, and led Baroda to the final against [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]], its best finish since the 2001–02 season. Despite his team's performance, Narula resigned as coach at the end of the season to take up a position at a [[Toronto]] cricket academy.<ref>Tushar Tere (3 March 2011). [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Ex-cricketer-who-coached-Baroda-to-Ranji-finals-quits/articleshow/7621770.cms "Ex-cricketer who coached Baroda to Ranji finals quits"] – ''The Times of India''. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref> The coach of the [[Canada national under-19 cricket team|Canadian under-19 team]] at the [[2011 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier|2011 Under-19 World Cup Qualifier]] in Ireland, Narula was appointed head coach of the senior Canadian national team in August 2014. He was the first full-time coach since the resignation of [[Gus Logie]] in December 2013.<ref>(8 August 2014). [http://www.espncricinfo.com/canada/content/story/768097.html "Mukesh Narula appointed Canada coach"] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2015.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18257/18257.html Career information and playing statistics] from CricketArchive
* [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/31900.html Career information and playing statistics] from ESPNcricinfo
* [http://mukeshnarula.com/ MukeshNarula.com], Narula's personal website

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}

{{s-bef| before = [[Gus Logie]] }}
{{s-ttl| title = Coach of [[Canada national cricket team|Canada]]
| years = August 2014 – }}
{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narula, Mukesh}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Baroda cricketers]]
[[Category:Coaches of the Canada national cricket team]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in Canada]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Delhi]]
[[Category:West Zone cricketers]]

Mukesh Narula - Revision history

imported>Mrcricketer at 16:39, 2 September 2021