Vinay Kumar Named Karnataka Senior Men’s Head Coach for 2026-27 Season

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has announced the appointment of former India international and state captain Vinay Kumar as the head coach of the Karnataka senior men’s cricket team for the 2026-27 domestic campaign.

What Happened

On Thursday, August 13, the KSCA confirmed its coaching roster across senior and age-group setups for both men’s and women’s cricket. All coaching selections for the 2026-27 season were finalised based on recommendations made by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).

Alongside Vinay Kumar’s appointment at the helm of the senior men’s team, former Karnataka batter Deepak Chougule has been named the fielding coach for the side.

Key Highlights

• Senior Men’s Leadership: Vinay Kumar assumes the role of head coach, supported by Deepak Chougule as fielding coach.
• Historic Player Record: Vinay Kumar stands as the highest wicket-taker among pace bowlers in Ranji Trophy history, with 442 wickets in the tournament.
• Proven Captaincy: He previously captained Karnataka to domestic trebles comprising the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Irani Cup during the 2013 to 2015 stretch.
• Extensive Experience: His career features one Test match, 31 One Day Internationals for India, and IPL title wins with Kolkata Knight Riders (2014) and Mumbai Indians (2015, 2017).
• Women’s and Age-Group Setups: S N Ameet has been appointed head coach for both the senior women’s and Under-23 women’s squads, with Rakshitha Krishnappa named fielding coach for the senior women’s team. Ganesh Satish has been named head coach for the men’s age-group teams.

Why This Matters

The appointment brings one of Karnataka’s most accomplished former players into the leadership core of the domestic squad. Having achieved significant domestic success as a player and captain, as well as competing at the international and franchise levels, Vinay Kumar provides deep familiarity with Karnataka’s cricket framework as the team prepares for the 2026-27 domestic schedule.

What to Watch Next

With the coaching appointments across men’s, women’s, and age-group divisions now finalised following the CAC recommendations, the respective teams will begin preparations under their newly appointed coaches for the 2026-27 domestic season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new head coach of the Karnataka senior men’s team?

Vinay Kumar has been appointed head coach of the Karnataka senior men’s team for the 2026-27 season.

Who recommended the coaching appointments for the KSCA?

All coaching appointments across the men’s and women’s programmes were made following the recommendations of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).

Who else was named to the Karnataka coaching staff?

Deepak Chougule was named fielding coach for the senior men’s team. S N Ameet will serve as head coach for both the senior women’s and U-23 women’s teams, Rakshitha Krishnappa as senior women’s fielding coach, and Ganesh Satish as head coach for men’s age-group squads.

Source: CricTracker