Muzumdar was the next batsman in line for Shardashram English School. This was when Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli made their world-record 664-run partnership. (Photo: ICC)
It was a historic moment for Indian cricket. The Women’s ODI World Cup trophy came home for the very first time. Under Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy, the team beat South Africa in the final on Sunday, November 2.
The final took place at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Many players became heroes on the field during the tournament. However, one person stayed behind the scenes but played a crucial role: Head Coach Amol Muzumdar.
Who is Amol Muzumdar? Why does his contribution matter so much?
Amol Muzumdar is a legend of Indian domestic cricket. He represented teams like Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam. His career truly shone when he played for Mumbai, where he won multiple Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy titles.
Muzumdar has a unique place in history. He was the next batsman in line for Shardashram English School. This was when Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli made their world-record 664-run partnership.
Muzumdar made a spectacular Ranji debut for Mumbai. The now 50-year-old scored an unbeaten 260 runs. He was a star in the domestic circuits during the 1990s. In 2007, he finally received the honor of leading Mumbai. He helped his side win the Ranji Trophy after a poor start.
The right-hand batsman scored 11,167 runs in 171 First Class matches. His best score was that unbeaten 260. He also played 113 List A matches, scoring 3,286 runs. He was a good middle-order asset throughout his career. He retired from active playing in 2014 after spending time with Assam and Andhra Pradesh.
Muzumdar shared a dressing room with prominent Indian cricketers. These included legends like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. In fact, he was the captain of the India A side in 1994, which included both Ganguly and Dravid.
Despite his brilliant domestic record, Muzumdar failed to play international cricket for India. The team's batting lineup was full of stars. He became known as one of the most prolific domestic run-scorers who never got a chance for the national team.
The BCCI put its trust in Muzumdar despite his lack of an international portfolio. They appointed him as the head coach of the Indian women’s team in October 2023. This move was a game-changer for Indian women’s cricket.
In just two years, Indian women’s cricket reached its pinnacle. They won the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time in history. Harmanpreet Kaur led the team as captain. Muzumdar led from the back as the head coach.
Muzumdar's contribution was crucial after the team faced a shaky start in the tournament. They lost three straight matches in the league stage. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur revealed the coach's impactful words following a defeat:
“That day, sir was a little aggressive, in a good way. But everyone took it positively because we knew whatever he was saying came from a good place, and he was right. We all trust him completely, and his message came from the heart.”
Muzumdar’s calm, clear, and empathetic coaching style helped the team regain focus. He guided them to historic wins in the semi-final and final. The man who missed out on an international playing career has now etched his name in history. He led his nation to its first-ever Women's World Cup trophy.
