Gary Stead, the former New Zealand head coach who guided the Black Caps to the 2019 World Cup final, the 2021 World Test Championship title, and the 2021 T20 World Cup final, has taken on a fresh challenge — leading Andhra in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season.
Stead joins a select group of foreign coaches — including Dav Whatmore, Michael Bevan, Intikhab Alam, Darren Holder, Shaun Williams, Dermott Reeve, and Alvin Kallicharan — who have ventured into India’s domestic setup. But unlike his high-profile international assignments, this new role is deliberately outside his comfort zone.
“I think I’m out of my comfort zone here after being in New Zealand. I’m trying to put myself out there a little bit and try and, I guess, be uncomfortable with the role, but I’m certainly looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said Stead to PTI.
Why Andhra? A vision that resonated
Stead’s move to Andhra was not random — it was driven by conversations with the Andhra Cricket Association and the vision shared by ACA president K Sivanath and secretary S Satheesh Babu.
“I was talking to some people that I knew who just told me that the Andhra role was up and that the people here were interested in talking to me.”
“I had a meeting with them and I liked the direction they were trying to take the team and it went from there. I’m really excited to be here and working with the team.”
This domestic assignment comes after Stead spent eight years as New Zealand’s national coach, but he sees no issue in the switch.
“I don’t sort of look at it (coaching) at whatever level it is. I think the role of the coach is to come in and try and make the team better and try and make individuals better within the team. It will certainly be my focus when I’m here,” said Stead.
A high-performance mindset for red-ball cricket
Stead will lead Andhra only in the red-ball season, as his agreement is for the Ranji Trophy campaign. He will continue his work with New Zealand Cricket in a part-time high-performance coaching role when back home — a workload he finds manageable.
“That’s (high performance coach) just a part-time role when I’m back in New Zealand, just helping out. My Andhra role here is only for the Ranji Trophy, for the red ball team.”
“So, I will still, I guess, oversee some of the white ball stuff, but I won’t physically be here for it. So, that’s, I think, quite manageable,” said Stead.
Learning and leading in Indian conditions
With close to a decade of experience touring India with the New Zealand team, Stead isn’t unfamiliar with the country’s cricketing landscape. But leading a domestic Indian side presents new nuances — from communication challenges to understanding local talent and cricketing culture.
Stead believes the diversity of Indian conditions will help him grow as a coach.
“I think for me, it’s also a great opportunity to keep learning about my coaching as well.”
He brings a player-centric philosophy to Andhra, focusing on empowerment and tactical growth. His goal: elevate individuals so that the team can collectively punch above its weight.
“I’m still getting to know the players, but there is a lot of talent here. There’s a nice mix and blend of younger players and older players and if they can come together and play well as a team and as a group, then I hope that we put pressure on every team that we play,” said Stead.
The road ahead: Elite Group A challenge
Andhra will compete in Elite Group A of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy alongside formidable opponents like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, and Baroda. The campaign kicks off against Uttar Pradesh at Green Park, Kanpur.
Led by experienced domestic stalwart Ricky Bhui and featuring emerging India players such as Nitish Kumar Reddy and KS Bharat, the squad is seen as one with untapped potential. Stead’s task will be to instill belief, unlock consistency, and chase the elusive goal — Andhra’s first-ever Ranji Trophy title.
With a focus on long-format cricket and a clear intent to push boundaries, Stead’s Andhra stint might just become a case study in how international expertise can reshape domestic ambition.
