Chandrakant Pandit named Mumbai’s Ranji coach
Former India wicket-keeper Chandrakant Pandit will replace Pravin Amre as the coach of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team. The Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) headed by Dilip Vengsarkar gave the nod to Pandit’s reappointment in a meeting held at Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) office on Tuesday. Pandit has earlier been the coach of the Mumbai team for three seasons between 2002-05 and is currently looking after Kerala Cricket Association as a director.
Pandit shepherded Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy title twice and has had fruitful stints in Maharashtra and Rajasthan as well. MCA has appointed Pandit as head coach of the Mumbai team as well as the Indoor academy.”
“It always feels nice to come back home. I have been associated with Mumbai for so many years. Coaching Mumbai teams gives you different pride which is hard to explain. There were indications earlier that MCA wanted me to be their coach but when I was contacted I just couldn’t say “no,” Pandit told The Indian Express.
Mumbai has seen some severe ups and down in the past few years. Its young and inexperienced side will be challenge to work with, Pandit says adding that it’s the same set of boys whom he had worked with when they were kids.”
“I know all of them, many of them were 14,16 or 19 when I was working as director of MCA indoor academy. For me winnning is important but the more important point is to develop a team. Mumbai players know the taste of winning, they have won Ranji Trophy 40 times. We have an inexperienced group right now. But more importantly it’s a process and things will take some ti”e,” Pandit added.
Vengsarkar said that Pandit will bring a lot of experience with him and under him Mumbai has won many titles before.”
“Chandu has been around for a long time and under him we won a lot (of titles). (Pravin) Amre did extremely well last season but wasn’t keen to coach (this season). Pandit is a proven guy, excellent strategist and good in management. He was the best (choice) we had,” he said.
The CIC also discussed names of former Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni and Sameer Dighe but the committee felt Pandit was the best man for the job.
Meanwhile, Milind Rege once again has been appointed chairman of selection committee. Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri, Ravi Thaker and Nishit Shetty are the other members.
