ROHIT BHANDIYE
PANAJI
Former Goa captain Swapnil Asnodkar isstepping into his biggest coaching assignment yet after being appointed headcoach of Kerala's Ranji Trophy team, with the former Indian Premier League starnow tasked with maintaining the state's strong run in domestic cricket.
Kerala finished runners-up in the 2024-25Ranji Trophy season and have established themselves as a competitive force onthe domestic circuit in recent years. Asnodkar believes the side has thebowling strength to compete at the top level but needs greater depth andexperience in batting.
“Overall, it's a good balanced side. However,batting depth is slightly inexperienced. But we have good bowling power. Butyes, as a batting unit, the whole aim would be to put on a lot of runs on theboard so that the bowlers get enough runs to bowl and get the opponents out,”Asnodkar told The Goan.
Asnodkar succeeds former India internationalAmay Khurasiya, who stepped down at the end of the previous season as the headcoach of the Kerala senior team.
For Asnodkar, it is a big leap in his coachingcareer, having previously coached the Kerala U-23, Goa U-23 and Nagaland seniorteams. Asnodkar was appointed Kerala's U-23 coach last year. His performanceand familiarity with the state's emerging players must have been a key factorin the Kerala Cricket Association's (KCA) decision to elevate him to the seniorjob.
“Yes, definitely my performance as a coach ofKerala U-23 team last year must have been noticed by the management because wehad put in a lot of effort,” Swapnil said.
Now, the real challenge for Asnodkar would beto maintain Kerala's consistency and build on its recent success. When asked whatwould be his main goal, Asnodkar said, “We all know Kerala is a very goodcricket-playing state. They have produced some India players. So, the aim wouldbe to make sure I help them in whatever possible way to get the best out ofthem and try to make them more consistent in delivering performances in allformats of the game. We'll have to work hard and try our best to go in onedirection and put the team's success before individual glory.”
Asnodkar, however, regrets the fact he wasnever considered to coach the Goa Ranji team despite having coached the GoaU-23 side.
“A coaching job is something where wheneveranyone gives you an opportunity to work, you take it. Obviously, I was told toleave from Goa. I was not picked by the Goa Cricket Association. So, I had tomake my way out and look for opportunities in other states in order to make myliving. So, I went to Nagaland and then ended up in Kerala during last season.And this season, by God's grace, I got to coach the Ranji Trophy side ofKerala,” Swapnil said.
“Now I am employed with Kerala, and I would liketo work over there for a few years. But if Goa Cricket Association wants me tocome back at any point in time, I will come back. In the near future, if I getan opportunity to come back and work for my own side, that would be great,”Asnodkar said.
