A good coach helps players see their potential, not just what they are now. Coaches work behind the scenes but are crucial to a team’s success. They often don’t get much appreciation, even when the team does well, despite giving players the training and motivation to win.
India got its first cricket team coach in 1992 and has had ten coaches since then: Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal, Anshuman Gaekwad, Kapil Dev, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Ravi Shastri, Gary Kirsten, and Duncan Fletcher.
The Indian cricket team, known as the Men in Blue, has had some great coaches over the years. Here’s a look at the top 5
5. Anshuman Gaekwad
Anshuman Dattajirao Gaekwad, a former Indian cricketer and coach, took charge of the Indian team during a tough time and led them to some famous wins.
Gaekwad played 40 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. He coached the national team twice, first from October 1997 to September 1999, and then from August 2000 to October 2000.
He became head coach after replacing Madan Lal when India was struggling in 1997. Under his guidance, India had both highs and lows. Despite challenges like the 1999 tour of Australia, there were memorable victories such as the Independence Cup final against Pakistan and Anil Kumble’s perfect ten against Pakistan in February ’99.
Gaekwad had a good relationship with captain Sachin Tendulkar but faced issues with the cricket board and was abruptly removed. However, he returned briefly in 2000 after Kapil Dev resigned from the role.
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4. Ajit Wadekar
During his time as a player, Ajit Wadekar led the Indian cricket team to great success with players like Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Vishwanath, and Farokh Engineer. He was a strong batsman at No.3, a skilled slip fielder, and a smart captain. Wadekar guided India to their first-ever series wins in the West Indies and England.
Later, as a coach under Mohd. Azharuddin’s captaincy in the early 1990s, Wadekar celebrated many memorable Test victories. He always motivated his team through tough times and successful periods alike.
As coach, India achieved impressive feats such as a 3-0 whitewash of England at home and an unbeaten streak of 14 Test matches from 1992 to 1994. They also performed exceptionally well in ODI tournaments, winning events like the 1993 Hero Cup, the Singer World Series in Sri Lanka, the Wills World Series, and the Titan Cup in India.
Wadekar stepped down from coaching in March 1996, succeeded by Sandeep Patil.
3. Duncan Fletcher
Duncan Fletcher, a former cricketer from Zimbabwe, became the coach of the Indian cricket team on April 27, 2011. He took over from Gary Kirsten, who had just helped India win the 2011 ODI World Cup.
At first, India struggled under Fletcher’s coaching in 2012, especially in Test matches against England and Australia. But things turned around in the 2012-13 season. India won their first bilateral series in England in 24 years. They also dominated in ODIs, winning several tournaments including the ICC Champions Trophy.
Under Fletcher and captain M.S. Dhoni, India reached the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. However, by 2014, India faced tough losses against England and Australia in both Tests and ODIs. Despite a strong showing in the 2015 ODI World Cup, where they defeated many teams, India lost in the semifinals to Australia, marking the end of Fletcher’s tenure as coach.
2. John Wright
John Wright became India’s first foreign coach in 2000. He had a successful time coaching Team India, but one of the most memorable moments was the 2001 Test victory against Australia in Kolkata. Under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, India won the match even after being forced to follow on. This win ended Australia’s unbeaten streak of 16 Test matches.
During Wright’s coaching from 2000 to 2005, India improved a lot. They won a Test series against Australia at home, drew a series in Australia, won against Pakistan, and reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa. This was India’s best World Cup performance since their victory in 1983. Wright’s coaching brought renewed energy to the team, and they performed well in all aspects of the game.
However, towards the end of Wright’s time as coach, the team’s performance declined. This was followed by Greg Chappell’s controversial tenure as coach.
1. Gary Kirsten
When Gary Kirsten took over as coach, the Indian cricket team was in a tough spot. They had just suffered a big loss in the 2007 World Cup and had struggled under Greg Chappell’s coaching. But Kirsten, a former South African cricketer, brought a positive change. He quickly bonded with Indian captain M.S. Dhoni, admiring Dhoni’s calm demeanor. Together, they achieved significant milestones like reaching the No. 1 Test ranking in 2009 and winning India’s first series in Sri Lanka and against New Zealand in New Zealand after 40 years.
Kirsten was praised for his good relationships with both senior and junior players, helping create a strong, balanced team. Many consider him the greatest Indian coach ever. His tenure culminated in 2011 when India won the ICC ODI World Cup, giving Kirsten a memorable farewell as coach. Players like Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, and Yusuf Pathan carried him around the ground in celebration.
Known as “Guru Gary,” Kirsten was hailed by MS Dhoni as the best thing to happen to Indian cricket. After leaving India, he later became the coach of the South African cricket team.
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