Gary Stead, the extremely successful ex-New Zealand coach, has been recruited as the new head coach of Andhra’s cricket team for the 2025-26 domestic season. This is the start of a new chapter for Andhra cricket, with expectations of better performances and greater achievements under Stead’s guidance.
Gary Stead Replaces Tinu Yohannan As Andhra’s Head Coach
It is a big coup for Andhra Cricket that Gary Stead replaced Tinu Yohannan as head coach for the 2025-26 season. Yohannan had moved to the MRF Pace Foundation earlier this year after leading the team last season, but Stead’s induction is expected to bring new ideas and a trove of international coaching experience to the team.
Gary Stead’s Impressive Coaching Career
At 53, Gary Stead is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in world cricket. The man did fantastic things as head coach of the New Zealand men’s cricket team from 2018-2025.
With him at the helm, New Zealand won the World Test Championship (WTC) title in 2021 and reached three international limited-overs finals the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup, the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Stead’s coaching credentials proved New Zealand’s 3-0 record series win against India to be extensive evidence of his strategic thinking in the subcontinent.
Known to be successful with his own coaching repertoire and style, Stead had established a credible pedigree prior to Men’s Team coaching working as assistant coach of the New Zealand Women’s Team (2001-2010); progressing to finals of 2009 ICC World Cup ODI and 2010 ICC T20 World Cup.
Prior to becoming a coach, Gary Stead had a steady playing career, appearing in five Test matches for New Zealand, scoring 278 runs at a career average of 34.75. He also played 101 first-class and 103 List A games, where he made important contributions with the bat.
Andhra Cricket Sees a New Era Under Stead
Andhra Cricket has experienced an uneven record over the past few seasons. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, the side placed sixth in their group, managing just one outright victory from seven matches.
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They also didn’t make it to the knockouts for the Vijay Hazare Trophy and were knocked out in the preliminary quarter-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Under Gary Stead’s leadership, Andhra hopes to start a new chapter and provide more reliable performances in all formats.
In a release, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) termed the team as “entering a new era” under Stead, while hoping to achieve “bigger milestones” and deliver “top-tier performances” in the 2025-26 season.
First Challenge: Ranji Trophy Match Against Uttar Pradesh
Andhra’s domestic season in 2025-26 will begin with a very important Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh on October 15, the beginning of their tenure under Gary Stead’s leadership. The world is waiting with bated breath to see how Stead’s extensive experience as a coach would reflect in better performances by the team.
