He played against Rohit, then coached Japan against India
Without any surprise, India comfortably booked their place in the Asian Games semifinals on Friday, beating hosts Japan by eight wickets. But there was an interesting Indian connection in the opposite dugout. Japan's women's team are coached by Vinay Iyer, a 41 year old former Mumbai club cricketer whose journey has taken him from Mumbai's maidans to coaching an international side at the Asian…
India secured their spot in the Asian Games semifinals on Friday, defeating host nation Japan by an emphatic eight wickets. In the stands, a familiar name loomed over the opposition dugout: Vinay Iyer, a 41-year-old former Mumbai club cricketer who now coaches Japan's women's team. Iyer's cricket odyssey began at his hometown's Maidan, where he played club cricket, including the Kanga League.
A notable encounter with future India star Rohit Sharma occurred when he played in a West Zone Under-19 zonal match at Wankhede Stadium, where the opposition featured young Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rohit famously smashed sixes beyond the stadium. Iyer moved to Japan in 2013, where he enjoyed domestic success, earning the Japan Cricket League Player of the Year award in 2016.
His coaching journey led him to Japan's national team, where he faced India in Friday's Asian Games contest. Despite his pre-match nerves, Iyer's team emerged victorious, dismissing Japan for 57 runs in 19.5 overs, with Shree Charani claiming 4 for 10. Shafali Verma shone with an unbeaten 40 from just 15 balls as India chased down the target in just five overs, clinching a thrilling eight-wicket win and advancing to the semifinals.
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