The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) announced on Thursday that Vinay Kumar, a former right-arm bowler for India, has been named head coach of the Karnataka senior men’s squad for the forthcoming 2026–2027 domestic season.
Few Karnataka cricket players can equal Vinay Kumar’s record when he takes over the position. With 442 wickets during his first-class career in the competition, he is the best wicket-taker among pace bowlers in Ranji Trophy history. His body of work makes him one of the most seasoned players in the history of domestic cricket in Karnataka.
Vinay, 42, replaces Yere Goud, who became a batting coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Deepak Chougule, a former batter from Karnataka, becomes his fielding coach. Vinay will serve as Karnataka’s head coach for the first time.
He was the bowling coach for MI Emirates in the ILT20 and the coach of the Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja T20 Trophy. Vinay worked as a talent scout for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and as a commentator for Star Sports Kannada after retiring from all formats in 2021.
Former Karnataka batter Deepak Chougule has been announced as the senior men’s team’s fielding coach, completing the core support staff for the 2026–2027 season. Vinay played nine T20Is, thirty-one ODIs, and one Test for India.
Additionally, he participated in IPL winning seasons with the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 2017 and the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. With 442 wickets, he continues to hold the record for most wickets taken by seamers in Ranji Trophy history and is ranked fourth overall in India’s top red-ball competition. He has a solid background for the head coaching role due to his captaincy experience, domestic record, and exposure to high-pressure franchise cricket.
The KSCA has confirmed a complete set of coaching appointments for its women’s and age-group programs for 2026–2027, in addition to the senior men’s setup. Rakshitha Krishnappa will be the senior women’s team’s fielding coach, and S N Ameet will be the head coach of both the senior and Under-23 teams.
Ganesh Satish has been named head coach of the men’s age-group teams. The CAC’s recommendations are followed in all program appointments, which encompass the entirety of Karnataka’s domestic cricket system going into the upcoming season.
