On Sunday night, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai roared - not just for the trophy, but for a silent hero. A man whose quiet leadership, faith, and inspiration carved India’s victorious journey in women’s cricket. He is Amol Muzumdar - whose vision, patience, and courage turned the impossible into possible. From a shaky start to the summit of the World Cup, he led India’s women to glory.
From Shivaji Park to stardom
Born in 1974, Amol grew up around Shivaji Park, the cradle of Indian cricket. A Ranji Trophy legend but never a member of the national team, his is a story of brilliance and heartbreak. For more than two decades, Amol was the backbone of Mumbai's domestic cricket. With 11,167 first-class runs at an average of over 48, he is the second-highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history.
Did it hurt to never wear the India cap? Of course, it did. But Amol accepted it with dignity. Once, he simply said, “Cricket has given me everything except the cap.” He never complained about what he didn’t have - he moved ahead, his own way.
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The coaching journey
When Amol retired in 2014, coaching was a rather natural progression. He would be an ideal mentor because of his reading of the players and clarity in communication. Be it the Mumbai, Andhra, or Rajasthan Royals, the players spoke highly of his calm demeanour and analytical mind. He possessed a rather rare gift — the ability to simplify the complex.
The same Shivaji Park that produced Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli shaped Amol. A young boy, training with them, under the watchful gaze of Ramakant Achrekar; in fact, when Sachin and Kambli entered that iconic 664-run partnership, Amol was the next batter, padded up, waiting for his turn! Destiny seemed to tease him even then.
The big break: National coach
In 2023, the BCCI appointed Amol Muzumdar as the head coach of the Indian women's cricket team. Many questioned the decision-a coach without international experience? -but his methods silenced every critic.
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Rather than changing his players - Harmanpreet, Smriti, Deepti, Shafali - Amol made them stronger. He instilled belief, composure and a champion’s mindset.
When Amol took over the reins, Indian women's cricket was in disarray-plagued by internal rifts and cliques. Slowly but surely, he earned the players' trust. After the World Cup win, Harmanpreet and her teammates were effusive in their praise-showering their coach with gratitude and admiration.
Calm before the storm
The 2025 World Cup didn't start very well for India. Batting collapses, dropped catches - the team looked lost. That's when Amol's quiet wisdom turned the tide. He didn't scold. He didn't give fiery speeches. He just said, "If we finish well, that will define who we are. "
Those few words changed everything. The team started to play with poise and confidence. Smriti’s timing returned, Harmanpreet’s aggression reignited, Deepti’s precision sharpened. The dressing room was calm — but inside, there was fire.
The victory that changed everything
After defeating South Africa in the 2025 World Cup final, Amol stood silently on the sidelines, his arms folded, his eyes moist. It wasn't about the trophy; it was about justice.
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For a man who had scored thousands of runs over 20 years without ever playing for India, this was poetic redemption. Under his guidance, the Indian women’s team didn’t just win, they learned to believe.
Through that, Amol Muzumdar finally got what destiny once denied him: an assured place in Indian cricket history. The story of Amol mirrors the reel-life journey of Kabir Khan from Chak De India — of a man whose unfulfilled cricketing dream found purpose and redemption as the coach of a women's national team. Only this time, it wasn't fiction, but real, and more inspiring.
