Vinay Kumar set to take charge as Karnataka head coach ahead of 2026-27 season

Former India pacer R Vinay Kumar is set to return as Karnataka's head coach ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season, with his appointment expected to be ratified in the coming days, sources told PTI. The move sees him replace Yere Goud, who has moved to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence as a batting coach.

Vinay is rejoining the state side he captained through a highly successful period, and his former Karnataka teammate Deepak Chougule is set to come in as fielding coach while current bowling coach Mansur Ali Khan is expected to remain. The appointment follows administrative changes and coaching reshuffles within the state's setup ahead of the new campaign.

Karnataka reached the Ranji Trophy final last season before losing to Jammu and Kashmir, and the squad is in transition under new captain Devdutt Padikkal as several younger players begin to establish themselves in the senior side. The combination of emerging talent and experienced campaigners is a recurring theme in the state's planning for the upcoming season.

As captain, Vinay led Karnataka to consecutive Ranji Trophy titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and oversaw back-to-back Vijay Hazare Trophy wins in those same seasons; his tenure also included two Irani Trophy victories. Those achievements are frequently cited when assessing his prior impact on Karnataka cricket.

Vinay represented India between 2010 and 2013, playing one Test, 31 One-Day Internationals and nine T20 Internationals. In first-class cricket he took 504 wickets in 139 matches, including a record 442 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.

Since retiring in 2021, Vinay has remained involved in the game as a commentator, as a talent scout for Mumbai Indians and as bowling coach of MI Emirates in the ILT20; he also recently coached Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament. He has already begun pre-season work, conducting a fast-bowling camp attended by V Vyshak and Vidwath Kaverappa, with further sessions expected before the domestic campaign begins.

Vinay's immediate task will be to help Karnataka reclaim the Ranji Trophy, a title they last won under his captaincy more than a decade ago, as the side prepares to compete in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy Elite Group B alongside Hyderabad, Tripura, Andhra, Punjab, Assam, Saurashtra and Chhattisgarh.