The quiet Mumbai suburb of Andheri witnessed an extraordinary celebration recently as Amol Muzumdar returned home carrying the weight of a nation's dreams fulfilled. The head coach of the Indian women's cricket team had just orchestrated their maiden World Cup triumph, creating history that resonated across the country.
The Emotional Homecoming
One week after that glorious Sunday night when India clinched the World Cup, gratitude overflowed in the Muzumdar household. Amol's father Anil captured the essence of his son's journey perfectly when he said, "Jo sab nahi hua tab, ab sab ho gaya." His mother Meena quietly added, "God is great!" - the same words Amol's wife Ruhee would echo when she met him after the final victory.
The significance of this achievement wasn't lost on those who knew Amol's cricketing past. A neighbor's father pointed out the emotional moment when Amol finally got to wear the India shirt - not as a player, but as a coach. This was the redemption arc that cricket fans had been waiting for.
The Man Behind the Coach
Despite his contractual obligations preventing detailed discussions, Amol shared a rare emotional moment during our conversation. Standing up thoughtfully, he revealed, "I have never ever felt this emotion before in my life." He expressed amazement at the widespread joy the victory brought to ordinary citizens across India, something he hadn't experienced even during his successful Mumbai playing days.
His wife Ruhee offered insights into the man away from the cricket field. Contrary to his reserved public persona, she described him as "very creative" - someone who paints landscapes, cooks delicious meals, and sings beautifully. She even claimed he could dance if he put his mind to it, though Amol quickly disappeared when this revelation came out.
Building Champions Through Trust and Tough Love
The world saw two particularly emotional moments after the final victory: Amol fighting back tears during his interaction with Smriti Mandhana, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur touching his feet in traditional guru-dakshina. Both moments spoke volumes about the relationships he built with the players.
The connection with Smriti Mandhana was particularly special. During the World Cup camp at DY Patil ground, the two had engaged in deep conversations about batting and team strategy that lasted from early evening until 9:30 PM, when ground staff had to remind them how late it had gotten.
Harmanpreet later revealed how "Amol sir" had delivered a stern dressing-down after the loss to England, a trait his former Mumbai teammates recognized well. His coaching philosophy involved direct communication at crucial moments, believing some messages couldn't wait and needed immediate impact.
From Unfulfilled Dreams to Historic Achievement
Amol's cricketing journey makes this World Cup victory particularly poignant. Despite a stellar first-class career where he scored 11,167 runs in 117 matches, including a double century on his Ranji Trophy debut, the India call-up never came. He played 115 of those games for Mumbai, eventually becoming the team's captain and later coach.
His father Anil, himself a former league cricketer, reflected on this journey without regret. "My son did all he could. He gave it his best shot. So he nor us ever had any regrets about that." Now, as he put it, "God has given him and the nation a world cup trophy. What more can we ask?"
The Viral Moments and Unplanned Inspiration
Amol's pre-final speech to the team went viral, with comparisons to Shah Rukh Khan's iconic speech in Chak De! India. Interestingly, Amol revealed the speech was completely impromptu. "I was so busy with this that I never thought about it. And when it was time, I thought, 'Ab kya bolta?!'"
The Chak De! comparisons extended to social media memes that superimposed his face on Shah Rukh Khan's character. The ICC even produced a video referencing this connection, though Amol and his wife admitted they haven't seen the blockbuster film.
The homecoming celebration organized by his housing society, complete with a drum band and nearly 200 people, took Amol completely by surprise when he returned from the World Cup triumph.
Legacy Beyond the Trophy
Perhaps the most significant impact of this victory comes from Amol's daughter Devina, who shared that her friends now want to watch more women's cricket. This generational shift in interest might be the greatest achievement of Amol's coaching tenure.
His disciplined approach to coaching comes naturally - his father was a teacher and enjoyed coaching, while his grandfather was also an educator. The family sees this World Cup not as redemption for past disappointments, but as a new chapter in Indian cricket history.
As we left the Muzumdar residence, where a large canvas painting of Chhatrapati Shivaji adorned the living room wall, one couldn't help but think that changing the landscape of women's cricket might be Amol Muzumdar's finest artistic creation yet.
