Former India and Karnataka pacer appointed as Kenya Coach

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Former India pacer Dodda Ganesh has been appointed as the head coach of Kenya's men's cricket team.

This appointment comes ahead of the Africa Qualifiers for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Ganesh, aged 51, played four Tests and one ODI for India but found more success in first-class cricket with Karnataka, scoring over 2000 runs and taking 365 wickets.

Kenya has a rich history in cricket, having competed in five World Cups between 1996 and 2011. Their best performance came in 2003 when they reached the semifinals under Indian head coach Sandeep Patil. However, since then, Kenyan cricket has seen a decline.

Kenya's cricket team will face Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Denmark, and Jersey in the ICC Division 2 Challenge League in September. They will also compete in the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in October. The men's 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The team has only qualified for one edition of the T20 World Cup, which was back in 2007. Since then, their performance has not been up to the mark, leading to a downward spiral. Ganesh expressed his excitement about his new role on social media after the appointment.

"Privileged to be named the head coach of the Kenya cricket team," he posted on 'X'.

In a video shared by the media, Ganesh is seen interacting with senior Kenya cricket officials. Former Kenyan internationals Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara will serve as his deputies to assist him in this challenging task.

The task ahead is daunting but Ganesh seems optimistic about making a significant impact. His experience in first-class cricket could prove invaluable as he takes on this new challenge.