The Indian Premier League (IPL) is often seen as a high-adrenaline spectacle driven by star-studded players smashing sixes and delivering toe-crushing yorkers. But beyond the glitz, the fanfare, and the fireworks lies a silent war room where strategy, psychology, and split-second decisions make or break games. These are the sanctuaries of IPL coaches and support staff where cricket isn’t played, but crafted.
In a format where margins are razor-thin and one over can define a season, coaching goes far beyond man-management. It’s about reading the game two steps ahead, making bold calls under pressure, trusting a player no one else does, or defying conventional wisdom for a higher reward.
While the captains often execute the plans, it’s the coaches who prepare, manipulate matchups, run simulations, and sometimes even change careers with a well-timed opportunity. From resurrecting careers to crafting in-game surprises, here are five unforgettable tactical masterstrokes from IPL coaches that changed the trajectory of crucial matches.
5. Nehra’s Move: Mohit Sharma as the Death Specialist (IPL 2023, Qualifier 2)
- Coach: Ashish Nehra
- Captain: Hardik Pandya
- Match Impact: GT vs MI (Qualifier 2)
By 2023, Mohit Sharma had become a forgotten name. Injuries, form dips, and age had pushed him out of contention. But Ashish Nehra, GT’s head coach and a man known for backing “gut feel”, had other plans. He not only brought Mohit back into the IPL fold but also gave him a pivotal role: death-over specialist.
In the crucial Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Nehra held Mohit back, resisting the temptation to use him early. The gamble paid off spectacularly. Mohit bowled with surgical precision at the death, returning figures of 5 wickets for 10 runs, dismantling MI’s lower order and booking GT’s place in the final.
4. Moody’s Rashid Double Act: Powerplay + Death Overs (IPL 2018, Qualifier 2)
- Coach: Tom Moody
- Captain: Kane Williamson
- Match Impact: SRH vs KKR (Qualifier 2)
By 2018, Rashid Khan had already cemented his status as the world’s top T20 spinner. But SRH coach Tom Moody elevated his utility to another level in a virtual semi-final against KKR. While teams typically used Rashid as a middle-overs enforcer, Moody made two bold moves:
- Bowling him in the Powerplay, against KKR’s aggressive openers.
- Saving one over for the death, to curb the Andre Russell threat.
Rashid didn’t just respond, he obliterated KKR’s hopes. Figures of 3/19 included the scalps of Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, and the dangerous Andre Russell. He even scored a quickfire 34* off 10 with the bat, capping one of the most dominant all-round performances in IPL history.
3. KKR’s Calculated Bet: Rahul Tripathi at No. 3 (IPL 2021, Eliminator)
- Coach: Trevor Bayliss
- Captain: Eoin Morgan
- Match Impact: KKR vs RCB (Eliminator)
In a low-scoring Eliminator, where every run was precious and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowlers were applying pressure from ball one, KKR made a sharp tactical adjustment. Instead of sending in a marquee foreign batter, coach Trevor Bayliss and skipper Eoin Morgan promoted the underrated Rahul Tripathi to No. 3.
Tripathi isn’t flashy. He doesn’t hit no-look sixes or boast massive IPL contracts. But what he brings is control, intent, and the ability to rotate strike golden traits in a nervy chase. He calmly compiled 23 off 19 balls, playing through tricky middle overs, neutralising spinners like Chahal and Shahbaz, and allowing the lower order to finish the job.
2. Ponting’s Gameplay: Marcus Stoinis, the Powerplay Predator (IPL 2020, Qualifier 2)
- Coach: Ricky Ponting
- Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Match Impact: DC vs SRH (Qualifier 2)
It was do-or-die for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020 Qualifier 2 against a dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad side. Ricky Ponting, the fiery Aussie legend turned shrewd tactician, decided to break the rhythm of the game by deploying an all-rounder in a dual role: open the innings and bowl the opening over.
Ponting handed him the new ball. It worked like a dream. Stoinis removed Priyam Garg and the in-form Manish Pandey early, denting SRH’s chase. His unexpected role created confusion and broke SRH’s matchups-based plan.
1. CSK’s Leap of Faith: Backing Ruturaj Gaikwad Amid Chaos (IPL 2021)
- Coach: Stephen Fleming
- Captain: MS Dhoni
- Match Impact: CSK vs KKR (Final, IPL 2021)
After a humiliating IPL 2020 campaign where Chennai Super Kings finished 7th and looked a shadow of their former selves, critics predicted the franchise’s decline. But head coach Stephen Fleming, in tandem with the ever-calculated MS Dhoni, refused to rebuild with panic. Instead, they laid faith in the raw but elegant Ruturaj Gaikwad, a soft-spoken youngster from Maharashtra with classical technique and calm under pressure.
While Gaikwad had a shaky start in 2020, the management saw something others missed: a player who could anchor and accelerate with equal poise. Against KKR in the 2021 final, their investment paid off in gold. Ruturaj gave CSK a solid start, and his tournament-long consistency earned him the Orange Cap.
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