From SBI Bank to Cricket Coach! Read inspirational Story of Munish Bali
Shri Munish Bali, the celebrated fielding coach behind the Indian Women’s Cricket Team’s historic 2025 World Cup triumph, is being hailed as an “unsung hero” by Indians. His story is very motivational, as he overcame the fear of leaving a stable job and resigned from his bank job to pursue a career in cricket.
Before his full-time commitment to cricket, Bali spent many years working for the State Bank of Patiala (which later merged with the State Bank of India) starting in 1997.
His departure from the banking sector was a turning point. In April 2022, Shri Bali made the tough decision to take voluntary retirement after his request for a two-year leave without pay to pursue his professional coaching career was reportedly denied. This decision allowed him to fully dedicate himself to the sport, leading to the series of historic victories that followed.
A Career Marked by Triumphs
Bali’s coaching credentials are truly illustrious, connecting him to some of Indian cricket’s most significant victories:
- 2008 ICC U-19 Men’s World Cup: Assistant Coach to the victorious team led by Virat Kohli.
- 2022 ICC U-19 Men’s World Cup: Fielding Coach for the winning squad captained by Yash Dhull.
- 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup: Fielding Coach for the senior team’s maiden World Cup victory.
The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has announced cash awards for Punjab’s stars of India’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Amanjot Kaur will receive ₹11 lakh each, while fielding coach Munish Bali from Patiala will get ₹5 lakh for his role in guiding the team to victory.
