Vinay Kumar guides USA Under-19 team to World Cup qualification
Vincent Vinay Kumar, former Andhra Ranji player and current USA Under-19 coach, guided his team to World Cup qualification with 17 wins, strong discipline, fitness programs and international exposure
Hyderabad: Hyderabadi Vincent Vinay Kumar spun magic to help the USA qualify for the Under-19 World Cup cricket championship.
Vincent, who represented Andhra in Ranji Trophy and is now the head coach of the USA Under-19 team, made it possible with an impressive record of 17 wins from 19 games in the run-up to the mission of guiding the team to the World Cup.
For the record, the USA made it to the World Cup to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January-February 2026.
“The boys showed great attitude in adverse conditions and definitely got used to implementing plans and strategies to win the games in the double round-robin format in the qualifiers played in Atlanta, which featured teams like Bermuda, Canada and Argentina,” Vincent said in a chat with *Telangana Today* from the USA.
“Consistency and team bonding were the key. And we got great support from USA Cricket to get everything we asked for in our preparations. And, the result is there for all to see,” Vincent said.
“The big difference was the way the boys got exposure playing in South Africa and the West Indies before the qualifiers. Those games made them mentally tough and showed the never-say-die attitude,” he said.
Vincent drilled the concept of sharing goals, discipline and team effort among the boys, and that proved to be a major hit.
“This was backed by fitness programs, skill training and data-driven planning,” said Vincent, who also reminded that this achievement is a high point of his coaching career.
“Well, the ultimate dream is to win the Under-19 World Cup. Nothing is impossible for sure. The boys have the talent and the hunger to keep improving and winning,” signed off Vincent, who is also the assistant coach of the USA senior men’s team and has a two-year contract.
