Dodda Ganesh
| Photo Credit: File Photo
Former India and Karnataka pacer Dodda Ganesh, 51, on Wednesday confirmed he has been appointed as head coach of the Kenya men’s cricket team for a one-year term from August 13.
Speaking over phone from Nairobi, he thanked Cricket Kenya chairman Manoj Patel, former Kenya team analyst Thota Srinivas, and former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo.
“It goes back to the time when Karnataka toured Kenya in 2000. I played well that time. I think they liked the respect I showed for them. When this opportunity came up, I immediately took it up since I’ve always had a soft corner for Kenya,” he said.
Thanks to Brijesh
He expressed his immense gratitude to former India cricketer Brijesh Patel, who was the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary at that time. “Because, the seed for the goodwill (with Kenya) was sown then (when he toured Kenya). After 24 years, it has helped me get this job.”
He added his goal is “to make Kenya qualify” for the T20 and ODI World Cups.
“I want to take them back to the era when they played well — 1996, 1999, 2003, that era,” he added.
His first assignment as the coach will be the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League A, where Kenya will face Papua New Guinea, Denmark, Kuwait, Jersey, and Qatar. It’s the first stage of the Qualifiers for the 2027 ODI World Cup and is scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 6 in Nairobi.
Following that, Kenya will play Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Gambia in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional Qualifier B tournament, to take place from October 17 to 26 in Nairobi.
Practice matches
Ganesh said he is planning to make the squad play at least 20 practice matches before the first event.
“I am a practical master. I don’t believe in copybook cricket, I believe in open nets. I want them to get as much practical knowledge as possible, not theoretical knowledge. We have around four weeks. I want to make them play at least 20 practice matches.”
Ganesh will have former Kenya players Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara as assistant coaches.
