Ex-Mumbai wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant named Chandigarh head coach

MUMBAI: When Mumbai take on Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium in their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener, a familiar face will be plotting strategies against them while sitting in the rival dressing room/dugout.Chandigarh have roped in former Mumbai wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant as their new head coach, TOI has learnt. Chandigarh will be playing at the Wankhede Stadium for the first time, and it will certainly help them that Samant has played cricket all his life at the venue.“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 was the Bihar head coach for the past two seasons, told TOI.Samant has been the head coach of Mumbai in the past. “I hope to help Chandigarh's players with my knowledge of Mumbai and its players in the first match,” Samant said.The former stumper, who played 101 first-class matches for Mumbai and Tripura before retiring in 2011, was known as a gutsy cricketer. Samant had coached the Mumbai Under-23 team to the Col CK Nayudu Trophy title in the 2023-24 season. He has played for and was the head coach of Cricket Club of India. He was also the fielding coach at the Assam Cricket Association's cricket academy in the 2023-24 season.The Chandigarh team arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and will hold their first practice session on Friday.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.