Name Hindi: पारस म्हाम्ब्रे / Gender Man
Paras Mhambrey: An Extraordinary Cricket Personality
Paras Madhukar Mhambrey, born on 20 June 1972 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, is a former international cricketer who represented the Indian national team. Although his career as an active player was brief, he has continued to contribute significantly to Indian cricket through coaching and managing various teams.
Career Timeline:
- Mhambrey began his first-class cricket career with Bombay in 1991/92.
- In October 1994, he made his One Day International debut against West Indies at Faridabad.
- A month later, November 19, 1994, marked his Test debut against the same competition at Ahmedabad.
- The athlete’s exceptional command of swing and seam position led him to be a top player for both First Class and List A matches.
- He participated actively till the end of season 2003-04 after which he announced retirement from all forms of professional cricket.
Even though Mhambrey had a quiet international stint that comprised only two test matches representing Team India, he posted robust performances at the domestic first-class level where he picked up more than 300 wickets playing primarily for Mumbai and Bengal. His bowling ability revolved around consistency rather than aggression. This disciplined approach allowed him to remain effective throughout long spells while maintaining appreciable control over line and length.
Career Stats:
- Overs Bowled – Tests: 38; ODIs:10
- Runs Conceded – Tests: 181; ODIs:39
- Wickets Taken – Tests: 3; ODIs: 1
- Batting Averages – Tests:4.00; ODIs:-
- Total Matches Played – First Class: 91; List A: 54
Coaching & Mentoring Career:
Since his retirement from active playing, Mhambrey has been heavily involved in cricket through coaching at different levels of the sport, demonstrating a continued dedication and commitment to Indian cricket. He coached Maharashtra’s cricket team for three years (2005-08), before taking charge as Bengal’s coach from 2008 to 2010.
The Mumbai-born cricketer then took up the responsibility of coaching India’s under-19 and ‘A’ teams where he worked with Rahul Dravid, adding much-needed experience and knowledge to the dressing room environment for these young players, grooming them for senior level international competitions.
In acknowledgement of his efforts and contributions, Paras Mhambrey was named assistant coach of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in February 2022. The former fast bowler is also currently serving as Assistant Coach for Team India since July 2021.
Mhambrey’s technical proficiency combined with his ability to shape young talent has undoubtedly earned him a well-deserved place in the annals of Indian Cricket history not just as a player but more so as a brilliant mentor and strategist behind the scenes.
