The UT Cricket Association (UTCA) Chandigarh has appointed Vinayak R Samant as the head coach of the Chandigarh senior men's cricket team for the upcoming season. The decision came at the last minute, after the team had already left for Mumbai to play its Ranji Trophy opener.
Samant is a former first-class cricketer and holds an NCA Level-B coaching certification. He will join the local team in Mumbai, where Chandigarh is set to begin its Ranji Trophy campaign.
Why Chandigarh Needed a New Head Coach
The appointment followed a chain of changes in the team's coaching setup. Former coach Rajiv Nayyar left his contract and joined Delhi. To fill the gap, Ravikant Sharma was brought in as a replacement just a few days before Samant's appointment.
The UTCA had initially announced the playing squad, and confirmed the support staff the following day. The head coach position, however, was still being sorted out as the team prepared to travel.
Two Coaches in the Senior Setup
With Samant's arrival, the Chandigarh senior men's setup now has two coaches working together:
- Ravikant Sharma — appointed as a temporary replacement after Rajiv Nayyar's exit
- Vinayak R Samant — newly appointed head coach for the upcoming season
The arrangement was put together quickly, with the team already on its way to Mumbai for the season opener. Samant is expected to link up with the squad there.
Our Take: A Late Fix That Raises Questions
To put it plainly, this is not how a professional cricket team should prepare for a Ranji Trophy season. The squad was announced, the support staff was confirmed, and the team had already left for Mumbai — yet the head coach was still being finalised.
In our view, the bigger concern is the chain of events. A coach leaves for Delhi, a temporary replacement comes in, and then a permanent head coach is named within days. That is a lot of movement in a short span, and it leaves the players with little time to adjust to a new voice in the dressing room.
Having two coaches in the senior setup can work, but only if their roles are clearly defined. If it is not, it risks confusion rather than support. For Chandigarh's players, the focus now has to be on the cricket itself — the Ranji opener in Mumbai — while the administration sorts out its own planning for the rest of the season.
