Mumbai, Nov 3 : When Shah Rukh Khan yelled “Chak De!” on the hockey field, it became a rallying cry for redemption for turning underdogs into champions. Nearly two decades later, real life mirrored reel magic, not on the hockey turf but on a cricket pitch. The man behind this transformation? Amol Anil Muzumdar the former domestic stalwart who led the Indian women’s cricket team to their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2025.
Born in 1974 in Mumbai, Muzumdar grew up in the cricket rich lanes of Shivaji Park the same nursery that produced legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. As a young boy, he trained under the legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar and once watched from the sidelines, padded up to bat next, as Tendulkar and Kambli stitched their historic 664-run partnership in a school match. Fate had marked him early, but destiny made him wait.
Over a career spanning more than two decades, Muzumdar became a pillar of Mumbai’s domestic dominance, amassing over 11,000 first-class runs at an average above 48 the second-highest in Ranji Trophy history. Yet, the India call up never came. “Cricket gave me everything, except the cap,” he once said, with quiet acceptance rather than bitterness.
After retiring in 2014, Muzumdar turned to coaching, nurturing teams like Mumbai and Andhra before serving as part of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL setup. Then, in 2023, came a twist worthy of cinema his appointment as head coach of the Indian women’s team. The announcement drew raised eyebrows; after all, how could a man who never played international cricket lead a national side?
But Muzumdar, much like the fictional Kabir Khan, silenced skeptics with substance. His team featuring powerhouses like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma had talent in abundance but needed cohesion. Muzumdar’s mantra was simple yet transformative: build trust, empower leadership, and play without fear. “We finish well. That’s who we are,” he told his players.
The 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup tested that belief. India stumbled early with batting collapses and fielding lapses that drew criticism. But Muzumdar’s calm, composed presence steadied the ship. No shouting, no drama — only quiet confidence.
The payoff came in the final against South Africa, a tense clash that saw India hold their nerve under immense pressure. When the last wicket fell and the tricolour waved high, Muzumdar stood at the boundary, arms folded, eyes glistening — the image of a man whose long-denied dream had found fulfilment through his team.
For a player who never represented India, Amol Muzumdar ended up scripting one of its greatest sporting stories — proof that you don’t need a cap to leave a legacy.