Dodda Ganesh appointed Kenya head coach

Former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh has been appointed as the new head coach of the Kenya men's cricket team. Cricket Kenya confirmed on August 13 (Tuesday). Ganesh will have former cricketers Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara as members of his support staff, along with fitness trainer Joseph Asichi.

Ganesh's first task will be to get Kenya through the Africa Qualifiers for the T20 World Cup 2026. In October this year, they will play Qualifier B alongside Gambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe. The team that finishes in the top two will then go on to play in the Regional Final.

Ganesh, who picked up 365 wickets for Karnataka in domestic cricket, played four Tests and one One-Day International (ODI) for India in 1997. The 51-year-old has the task of restoring Kenyan cricket's glory days. Kenyan played five World Cups between 1996 and 2011 with their best finish coming in 2003 where they reached the semi-finals.

“We have a huge task ahead, given that we only have less than three weeks left until the games," Ganesh said after his appointment. 

"The good thing is that around me is a good support staff that I will strive to work together with, and as a family. I want to see us back at the World Cup. I have lots of confidence having been here and played against the players from the past. Results are not produced by one person, it’s a team game."

Kenya have played just one T20 World Cup, which was in the inaugural edition in 2007. “We have started with the national team, but even right now, there are leagues that are going on in holiday camps in different parts of the country. Hopefully, out of those, we shall be able to generate more and better players,” Cricket Kenya CEO Ronald Bukusi said.

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