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Metamorphosis: From being 'dictator' to Ajju bhai, J&K coach's story
The New Indian Express Coimbatore
|August 26, 2025
FORMER India all-rounder Ajay Sharma was vacationing in Thailand with his family three years ago when he got a call from Mithun Manhas, ex-Delhi captain and member of Cricket Operations and Development of the sub-committee running the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.
Sharma had seen Manhas' growth as a cricketer in Delhi and the duo had been in regular touch. Born in Jammu, Manhas after playing and leading Delhi for a long time had returned to J&K and was given a responsibility of improving cricket in the region. "He told me about the vacancy (coach) for the senior side as their incumbent coach Sanjeev Sharma had left the team. But honestly, I was not that interested," 61-year-old Sharma told this daily on the sidelines of the J&K match against Baroda in the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament at the Murugappa Ground on Saturday. J&K went on to win the contest with a bonus point to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament.
This story is from the August 26, 2025 edition of The New Indian Express Coimbatore.
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