Andreasujg at 22:38, 5 October 2025

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{{Short description|Indian cricketer (born 1974)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Hrishikesh Kanitkar
| image =
| country = India
| fullname = Hrishikesh Hemant Kanitkar
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|11|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| family = [[Hemant Kanitkar]] (father)
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Right-arm offbreak
| role = All-rounder
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1997 - 2000
| testdebutdate = 26 December
| testdebutyear = 1999
| testdebutagainst = Australia
| testcap = 224
| lasttestdate = 2 January
| lasttestyear = 2000
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| odidebutdate = 7 December
| odidebutyear = 1997
| odidebutagainst = Sri Lanka
| odicap = 109
| lastodidate = 30 January
| lastodiyear = 2000
| lastodiagainst = Australia
| odishirt = 14
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 2
| runs1 = 74
| bat avg1 = 18.50
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 45
| deliveries1 = 6
| wickets1 = 0
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 34
| runs2 = 339
| bat avg2 = 17.84
| 100s/50s2 = 0/1
| top score2 = 57
| deliveries2 = 1,006
| wickets2 = 17
| bowl avg2 = 47.23
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 2/22
| catches/stumpings2 = 14/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches3 = 146
| runs3 = 10,400
| bat avg3 = 52.26
| 100s/50s3 = 33/46
| top score3 = 290
| deliveries3 = 7,753
| wickets3 = 74
| bowl avg3 = 47.91
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 3/21
| catches/stumpings3 = 85/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 128
| runs4 = 3,526
| bat avg4 = 35.26
| 100s/50s4 = 6/21
| top score4 = 133
| deliveries4 = 3,476
| wickets4 = 70
| bowl avg4 = 39.64
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 4/35
| catches/stumpings4 = 49/–
| date = 20 February
| year = 2016
| source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30018.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Hrishikesh Hemant Kanitkar''' ({{audio|Hrishikesh_Kanitkar.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 14 November 1974) is a former Indian [[cricket]]er, who briefly played Tests and ODIs.

He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler.<ref name="cricinfo_kanitkar">[http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/30018.html Hrishikesh Kanitkar on ESPNcricinfo]</ref> When he retired in 2015, he was one of only three batsmen to have scored over 8000 runs in the [[Ranji Trophy]] and also the only captain in the Ranji Trophy history to lift both the Elite and Plate league titles.

== Domestic career ==

He made his [[First-class cricket|first-class debut]] against the [[Sanjay Manjrekar]] led [[Mumbai cricket team]] at [[Indira Gandhi Stadium, Solapur]], which was drawn in the [[1994–95 Ranji Trophy]].

He scored prolifically for the [[Maharashtra cricket team]] in the Ranji Trophy and brought himself into contention for national selection. Although off the international scene for quite some time, Kanitkar joined the [[Brentwood Cricket Club]] in [[Essex]] for the 2006 season. During this season he enjoyed the English conditions, scoring over 1000 runs in the season with an average of 76.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ranjisuperleague/content/story/325940.html Rookies come to the party]</ref><ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/429552.html Madhya Pradesh welcome back ICL returnees]</ref> His highest score of 290* was against Bihar in the 2002-03 Ranji season in [[Tata Digwadih Stadium]], where Indian would-be captain [[MS Dhoni]] was the wicket-keeper.

Kanitkar played for the [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]] [[Ranji Trophy|Ranji]] team as a senior player.<ref name="RanjiGuest">[http://www.hindustantimes.com/Aakash-Chopra-to-represent-Rajasthan/Article1-612997.aspx Ranji Trophy Guest Players] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104002242/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Aakash-Chopra-to-represent-Rajasthan/Article1-612997.aspx |date=4 November 2010 }}</ref> In the [[2010-11 Ranji Trophy]] season, he captained the Rajasthan team and led them to their maiden Ranji Trophy triumph after defeating [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]] in the finals.<ref name="ranji_win">{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/ranji-trophy/28361409_1_hrishikesh-kanitkar-ranji-trophy-rajasthan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104205715/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/ranji-trophy/28361409_1_hrishikesh-kanitkar-ranji-trophy-rajasthan | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-11-04 | title=Dream comes true for Kanitkar | access-date=2011-02-20 | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=2011-01-26 }}</ref>

In December 2012, he became the 27th cricketer to play 100 [[Ranji Trophy]] matches.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/502593.html Yes, but is he lucky]</ref><ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ranji-trophy-elite-2011/content/story/549155.html Kanitkar 'humbled' to be in final again]</ref><ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ranjisuperleague2010/content/story/497208.html A triumph to savour for Kanitkar]</ref>

In July 2015 Kanitkar announced his retirement from cricket.<ref name="Retire">{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/893081.html |title=Hrishikesh Kanitkar retires from cricket |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=1 July 2015 }}</ref>

== International career ==

He is best remembered for hitting a four when India required 3 runs to win from 2 balls in the [[Silver jubilee independence cup 1998|Silver Jubilee Independence Cup]] final at [[Dhaka]], against [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]].<ref name="cricinfo_kanitkar"/> He played only a few ODIs and scored only one half-century in the format (which came in his third ODI innings against the [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] in [[Kochi]]).

He only had a brief international test career in which he played in two tests in [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 1999–2000|1999/00]] both against [[Australian cricket team]] at [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]]. He scored 11 and 45 in a [[Boxing Day]] Test at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] as the [[Indian cricket team|India]] lost by 180 runs. In his second Test, Kanitkar scored 10 and 8 as India was defeated by an innings and 141 runs and Kanitkar was never selected in the Test team again.

== Coaching career ==

In 2011, Kanitkar was appointed as an assistant coach of [[Kochi Tuskers Kerala]] but walked out of the contract even before the [[Indian Premier League|IPL]] season began. This was due to disputes with the owners.

Kanitkar was named as head coach of the [[Goa cricket team]] for [[2015–16 Ranji Trophy]] season with a one-year contract.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-domestic-2015-16/content/story/902921.html Kanitkar joins Goa as coach]</ref>

Kanitkar then became the head coach of the [[Tamil Nadu cricket team]] from 2016 - 2019. He excelled as a coach for Tamil Nadu and was credited with turning around the fortunes of the team.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hrishikesh Kanitkar: The man behind Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy turnaround - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/hrishikesh-kanitkar-the-man-behind-tamil-nadus-ranji-trophy-turnaround/articleshow/56170409.cms|access-date=2020-06-14|website=The Times of India|date=25 December 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Along with [[Lakshmipathy Balaji|Lakshmipati Balaji]], as the full-time bowling coach, Kanitkar was credited with making a major change in the team.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=C. Santosh|date=2017-01-01|title=Hrishikesh Kanitkar's hand in Tamil Nadu transformation|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/010117/hrishikesh-kanitkars-hand-in-tamil-nadu-transformation.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

In the run-up to [[ICC Women's T20 World Cup]] 2023, Hrishikesh Kanitkar was named the Stand-In Chief Coach of the [[India women's national cricket team]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/richa-ghosh-draws-praise-from-india-stand-in-coach-ahead-of-womens-t20-world-cup-2023-sky-is-the-limit-for-her-2333512-2023-02-11 | title=Richa Ghosh draws praise from India stand-in coach ahead of Women's T20 World Cup 2023: Sky is the limit for her | date=11 February 2023 }}</ref>

== Personal life ==

He is the son of former Indian wicket-keeper [[Hemant Kanitkar]] who also played in two [[Test cricket|Tests]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanitkar, Hrishikesh}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]
[[Category:India One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:West Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricketers]]
[[Category:Maharashtra cricketers]]
[[Category:Madhya Pradesh cricketers]]
[[Category:Central Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Pune]]
[[Category:Indian cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricket captains]]
[[Category:Coaches of the India women's national cricket team]]

{{India-cricket-bio-stub}}

Hrishikesh Kanitkar - Revision history

Andreasujg at 22:38, 5 October 2025