Kanitkar, who played two Tests in 1999/2000 and 34 ODIs, is remembered for his heroics in the final match of the Independence Cup against Pakistan in 1998.
The gutsy left hander hit a boundary off Saqlain Mushtaq, when India required three runs to win from two balls, in fading light to enable them post a memorable victory over the arch-rivals in Dhaka, chasing a 300-plus target.
In July 2015, Kanitkar announced his retirement from international cricket.
The Rising Pune Supergiants, to be led by India's limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have already named Stephen Fleming as the head coach.