Lalchand Sitaram Rajput is an Indian former first-class cricketer and cricket coach. A right-handed batsman, he represented India at international level during the mid-1980s and went on to have a long career as a domestic captain, selector, team manager and head coach of national sides in South Asia.
| Lalchand Rajput | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lalchand Sitaram Rajput |
| Born | 27 December 1961, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm off-break |
| Role | Opening batsman; later coach and administrator |
| Domestic team | Bombay / Mumbai (Ranji Trophy) |
| International career | 1985–1987 |
Rajput was born in Mumbai and rose through the city's competitive club and age-group cricket structure, which historically has produced a large share of India's Test cricketers. He emerged as a prolific opening batsman in the Ranji Trophy for Bombay, the most successful team in Indian domestic cricket.
Rajput was a regular member of the Bombay Ranji Trophy side through the 1980s and into the 1990s, contributing as an opener in a strong batting line-up. He also captained Bombay in domestic competitions and played for combined zonal teams in the Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy.
Rajput made his debut for India in the mid-1980s, playing Test matches and One Day Internationals. His international career was brief, with appearances spread across the 1985–1987 period, during a time when India's top order featured established players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri, which limited opportunities for new openers.
After retiring as a player, Rajput moved into coaching and cricket administration, holding a series of high-profile roles:
While Rajput's playing career at the international level was short, he is regarded primarily for his contribution to Indian and associate-nation cricket as a coach and administrator. His association with the 2007 World Twenty20-winning Indian squad and his work in shaping the Afghanistan team during a formative phase of its rise are frequently cited as the most notable aspects of his post-playing career.