Vinayak Samant named Chandigarh head coach ahead of 2026-27 Ranji Trophy
Vinayak Samant named Chandigarh head coach ahead of 2026-27 Ranji Trophy
Chandigarh have appointed former Mumbai wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant as their new head coach for the 2026-27 domestic season, setting up a fascinating subplot for their Ranji Trophy opener against his old side.
When Mumbai host Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium in their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener, a familiar face will be plotting strategies against them from the rival dugout. Samant, who spent his entire playing career at the iconic venue, accepted the role this week after a conversation with the union territory's cricket body.
“Chandigarh asked me to be their head coach for this season yesterday, and I said ‘yes’. It's an honour to coach a first-class team again,” Samant, who served as Bihar's head coach for the past two seasons, told TOI.
The former stumper, who played 101 first-class matches for Mumbai and Tripura before retiring in 2011, was known as a gutsy cricketer during his playing days. He is confident his deep familiarity with the Wankhede will serve Chandigarh well in their maiden outing at the ground.
“I hope to help Chandigarh's players with my knowledge of Mumbai and its players in the first match,” Samant said.
A proven hand in the coaching ranks
Samant is no stranger to the coaching circuit. He previously served as head coach of Mumbai and guided the Mumbai Under-23 team to the Col CK Nayudu Trophy title in the 2023-24 season. He has also been associated with the Cricket Club of India as both a player and head coach, and worked as fielding coach at the Assam Cricket Association's cricket academy in the 2023-24 season.
Chandigarh's squad arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and will hold their first practice session on Friday, with Samant's intimate knowledge of local conditions expected to be a key asset for a side playing at the venue for the first time.
A wider coaching carousel
Samant's appointment adds to a wave of coaching reshuffles across Indian domestic and franchise cricket. On 2026-09-25, the Delhi and District Cricket Association named former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya as head coach of the Delhi senior men's team, with Rajkumar Sharma — Virat Kohli's childhood coach — brought in as state mentor. Four days earlier, on 2026-09-21, Chennai Super Kings appointed former India pacer Zaheer Khan as head coach, succeeding Stephen Fleming, after talks with Hemang Badani collapsed over contract terms following Albie Morkel's move to the Joburg Super Kings.