Sameer Dighe, the former Indian wicket-keeper batsman, has been appointed as the coach of Mumbai for the 2017/18 season. He has replaced Chandrakant Pandit in the role, who was not given an extension despite Mumbai winning the Ranji title and qualifying for the final in the two years of his coaching. Dighe pipped Pravin Amre to become the coach of the side, who was one of the strongest contenders for the post.
Dighe has worked as batting coach with Tripura Ranji side in past. He led Mumbai to Ranji Trophy triumph in 1999/2000 season,
“It’s a great honour to be the Mumbai coach. It is a big responsibility as well, and I will be honest with my job. I am looking forward to this,” Dighe told ESPNcricinfo.
Earlier, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was to appoint the coach of the side last month but delayed the appointment till June 2. MCA stunned everyone by making oodles of changes in the side at each level. In the biggest change, Ajit Agarkar, the former Indian all-rounder was appointed as the chief selector of Mumbai Ranji team last week replacing Milind Rege.
The move from MCA of bring overhaul changes in the backroom staff was done to bring new faces to the side and there was no specific reason to do so,
“Looking at the current scenario, we just wanted something new and it was a general consensus, actually. The whole thing about all the meetings that have happened in the last week or so, we always felt that there was a need for fresh faces and fresh outlook… hence, Sameer, who hasn’t been tried at all. There have been changes made to the coaching staff in the under-23, 16 and 14 age-groups, and this goes with that,” ,” Amol Muzumdar, a CIC member, told ESPNcricinfo.
A veteran of 83 first-class games and 107 ist A matches, Dighe had a short stay in international cricket as he played 6 Tests and 23 ODIs for India in a period of one year.