In a significant development for Indian women’s cricket, Amol Muzumdar, a former Mumbai batsman with an illustrious cricketing background, has been announced as the new head coach for the India women’s national cricket team. The decision emerged following a thorough interview process conducted by the cricket advisory committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Muzumdar’s appointment has garnered widespread support and anticipation within the cricketing community.
The position of head coach had remained vacant since December 2022 when Ramesh Powar was abruptly relieved of his duties as part of the BCCI’s restructuring efforts. This change occurred just two months ahead of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. During the interim, Hrishikesh Kanitkar stepped in as the acting head coach, overseeing the team in various critical events, including the home T20I series against Australia in December, the tri-series in South Africa, the earlier T20 World Cup in the year, and India’s gold medal triumph at the Asian Games in September. Additionally, Nooshin Al Khadeer, a former India bowler, served as the interim head coach during the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in July.
Amol Muzumdar, the newly appointed head coach, brings a wealth of cricketing experience with him. After retiring from a successful 21-year first-class career, during which he established himself as one of the highest run-scorers in the Ranji Trophy, Muzumdar transitioned to a coaching role. He spent 15 years representing Mumbai before moving to Assam in 2009 and later joining Andhra.
His illustrious career includes an impressive 11,167 runs from 171 first-class matches, featuring an exceptional 30 centuries. Despite not having the opportunity to represent the Indian national team, Muzumdar played a pivotal role in securing eight Ranji Trophy titles for Mumbai.
In his post-playing career, Muzumdar made a significant impact as a coach. He worked with age-group teams at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy and held coaching roles with Mumbai and the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He also contributed to the coaching staff during South Africa’s tour of India in 2019.
With his recent appointment, Amol Muzumdar is all set to bring his extensive cricketing knowledge and coaching expertise to guide and mentor the India women’s national cricket team, heralding a new era for Indian women’s cricket. His rich experience as both a player and coach positions him as a promising choice to lead the team to new heights and future achievements.