Three young men from Ramakant Achrekar’s coaching school were trying to write their names into the history books of Cricket in 1988. Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli smashed bowlers all over the ground in the Harris Shield semifinal, putting together 664 runs.
And then there was a 13-year-old kid named Amol Muzumdar, padded up since the first wicket fell, waiting for his turn. The team declared at 748, and Amol never got to bat.
That moment stayed with him. Waiting became part of his story.
Stalwart who never had his moment
Amol dominated Indian Domestic Cricket. He made his first-class debut for Bombay and hit a double century (260) in his first game, beating the then world record for most runs in a debut game.
He made runs for years, season after season, carrying Mumbai’s batting like a quiet pillar. More than 11,000 first-class runs and over 9,000 in Ranji Trophy — second only to Wasim Jaffer.
But the Indian team door never opened.
It wasn’t about talent. It was about timing.
The middle order already had names that would go on to define an era — Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman.
While his teammates made headlines, Amol kept scoring in empty stadiums and small grounds. He once said he never celebrated birthdays, never took family holidays, because cricket was his only world. He gave everything he had to a dream that never called him back.
Turning from silence to leadership
After retiring from Cricket, Amol did not leave in anger. Instead, he chose to pursue a career in Coaching. Just as he had gone to the nets to improve after being left out of the national team.
He began working with younger players, sharing lessons the game had carved into him: stay patient, stay grounded, keep learning. He went on to coach India’s Under-19 and Under-23 sides, and later even helped the Netherlands team fine-tune their batting.
Those who worked with him often said he had a calm presence — the kind that makes players believe again when things fall apart.
His biggest opportunity came in October 2023, when he was appointed head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team.
It was like life had finally come full circle, just not in the way anyone expected.
How he helped a team believe again
The women’s team was struggling with self-belief. They lost games that they should have won. Confidence was low.
Amol didn’t give speeches. He sat with players, one by one, and spoke with them as people. He told them what he once told himself — “You don’t stop playing because you failed. You fail only when you stop trying.”
From that moment, things began to change. India started winning.
They have won 23 ODIs since 2024, more than any other team in the world. They also won seven out of nine series tournaments. His choices weren’t always easy. He dropped Jemimah Rodrigues mid-tournament, only to bring her back when it mattered most.
She responded with an unbeaten 127 in the World Cup semifinal against Australia, chasing a record target. He rested Harleen Deol for the knockouts, trusted a young Shafali Verma after an injury in the squad, and backed his instincts over reputation.
Every bold move he made came from years of living on the other side of selection.
A final that seemed meant to be
India defeated Australia in the World Cup Semi Final. The Australians were the team that many believed were invincible. and then went on to defeat South African team in the final by 52 runs.
The crowd roared, but one moment stood still.
Harman walked to Amol, bent down, and touched his feet.
He lifted her up and hugged her.
It wasn’t just a celebration. It was history healing itself. The man who had waited a lifetime to play for India had finally won for India — not as a batsman, but as a guide, a thinker, and a believer.
Legacy of a quiet fighter
Amol Muzumdar’s story isn’t one of what he was denied. It is a story of what he has given. He showed that greatness doesn’t always come with fame or selection. Sometimes, it’s hidden in the years you keep going when no one is watching.
He taught an entire generation that failure can become fuel if you keep your heart open. And maybe that’s why his victory with India’s women’s team felt so real — it came from a man who knew exactly what loss felt like.
Amol Muzumdar never played for India. But in the truest sense, India finally played for him.