List: Indian Cricket Team Coaches

The Indian cricket team has been regarded as the best in all game formats for decades. The team has consistently performed well and is considered one of the sport’s most destructive, successful, and anticipated performers.  And all of this is made possible by the Indian cricket team coaches.

Even though cricket is a sport played by cricketers, like any other job, the behind-the-scenes team plays a huge role in how the squad men perform on the field. Like a director drives a movie and plays with his actors, the head coach and other specialized coaches pump up the cricketers to perform well. They are skilled in teaching and molding the greatest players into the best shape. 

Who are coaches of Indian cricket team?

Former well-experienced cricketers have always done wonders as head coaches. With their skills and knowledge, they not only tell the budding cricketers how to improve their game. They also teach them how to analyze the game well and help them to bring out the best version of their current self. 

How a player performs on the field can be determined by their skill set and talent and the kind of coaching they have had. Hence, coaches play one of the most vital roles in any cricketer’s life. 

In this article, let’s check out the list of Indian National Cricket Team Coaches, who have led the Indian cricket team to the number one spot in the world. 

India national cricket team coaches – List

1. Rahul Dravid (2021- Present) 

One of the Test batters of all time, Rahul Dravid, has recently taken over the position of the Head Coach for All Formats of the Indian cricket team. With his impeccable batting abilities and knowledge of the game, Rahul Dravid is one of the best contenders to carry forward the legacy of Indian cricket. 

After taking the Under-19 Indian Cricket Team to the heights and lifting the ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup 2018 title, Rahul Dravid aims to craft the main team towards perfection. Under his valuable guidance, players like Mohd. Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill, and Sanju Samson have flourished exceedingly well. 

The Men’s team has successfully qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Semi-Finals, Asia Cup 2022 Semi-Finals, and ICC World Test Championship 2023 finals. Unfortunately, the team has failed to lift any trophies, but we shall look forward to the team’s future under him. 

Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023

Recently the Indian cricket team won the Asia Cup 2023 under his coaching, which lifted the spirit of supporters, heading into the ODI World Cup 2023, which was to take place in India itself. However, the hopes were dashed in the final of the tournament.

India headed into the tournament as not the favorites, but produced some very beautiful and dominating results. They managed to win their 9 league games without a sweat breaking. Starting with a win against Australia, they went strength to strength in every game.

The whole team came together as a unit to produce the results. The bowlers, batters, and even fielders worked in harmony to take India to the knockouts, where they posted the highest total in the history of World Cup semifinals, by smashing a total of 398 runs. And defeated New Zealand to take revenge of 2019 World Cup.

Their march was finally stalled in the final by Australia, who didn’t start the tournament as the favorites either, still managed to win the tournament by defeating the hot favorite Indian team in the final.

After this loss, there are a lot of questions being raised regarding Dravid’s position with the team.

2. Ravi Shastri (2015-16, 2017-21) 

With a win percentage 60.87 in Test Cricket, 62.64 in ODIs, and 69.20% in T20Is, the former aggressive Indian batsman Ravi Shastri leads as the most successful Cricket coach in India. Being the team’s coach for the longest period, Ravi Shastri has the best figures as a head coach. 

Being an attacking batsman, Ravi Shastri has always given the batters valuable suggestions to strengthen their weaknesses. Team India had a series of uninterrupted victories under him. Having played 46 Test Matches and 91 ODIs, India won 28 and 57 games, respectively, under his coaching and Virat Kohli’s captaincy. 

BGT 2020/21 victory Down-Under

The most iconic victory under Ravi Shastri, came in downunder against Australia. It was the final test of the Border Gavaskar trophy, where Indians were, battered, bruised but not lost. In this series they showed great fight and determination to create history in the game.

Having lost all the major players to injury and other personal reasons, India fielded one of the most inexperienced squad headed by Ajinkya Rahane in absence of Virat Kohli. Still they performed wonders at the historic ground of Brisbane to pull the game by the scruff of its neck to take India over the line.

Players like Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Natarajan, who were not even part of the provisional 16 and had stayed back as the net bowlers, were called up for the Test squad and in the final game of the series they rose to the occasion. This showcases, that Ravi Shastri breaths strength into his players, who then breath fire on the field.

Ravi Shastri has led team India to multiple ICC tournaments, including ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 and 2019 Semi-Finals, Asia Cup 2018 (Winners), and ICC World Test Championship 2021 finals. Hence earns the title of one of the best cricket coach in India.

3. Anil Kumble (2016-17)

India’s former Ace fast bowler Anil Kumble played a cameo performance as the Indian National team coach. Due to multiple issues, unfortunately, he resigned from the position, but under him, Indian Cricket performed wonders.

Under his guidance and Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India became the number one test cricket team, winning 12 games out of the 17 test matches. They played and lost only one game. His coaching led India to the finals of the ICC Champions trophy 2017, wherein, unfortunately, the team lost the final game to Pakistan. 

Even though his tenure as a head coach was short-lived, Anil Kumble still has received wide recognition and appreciation from fans in the cricket fraternity. 

4. Duncan Fletcher (2011-15) 

Indian cricket has outsourced the position of head coach four times in its history, and Duncan Fletcher was India’s last foreign head coach. Duncan Fletcher was phenomenal during his tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. 

Under his guidance and MS Dhoni’s leadership, the team has brought multiple laurels for the country. The former Rhodesian cricketer has been the head coach of not just the Indian cricket team but also the English and Zimbabwe cricket teams. 

With his experience in the sport for multiple decades, the Indian cricket team won their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. He also led India towards the ICC men’s T20 World Cup Finals, wherein unfortunately, the team lost the match to Sri Lanka. 

5. Gary Kirsten (2008-11)

Gary Kirsten is one of the world’s most renowned coaches. Gary Kirsten is among the most famous and successful foreign head coaches the Indian cricket team has had. Not only did the Indian cricket team perform their best under him, but they also managed to win their biggest tournaments and series under his guidance. 

The former South African cricketer and coach Gary Kirsten gave the Indian cricket team some of the greatest moments in their history, such as winning the highest number of consecutive wins in ODIs while chasing (17 matches). 

Nobody can ever forget the greatest moment in the history of Indian cricket as they lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 for the second time. The Indian cricket team also gained the support of the number one test cricket-playing nation under Gary Kirsten from 2009-2011. 

India national cricket team coaches: Timeline and Highlights

1 Keki Tarapore: Keki Tarapore became Indian Cricket Team’s first-ever Head Coach and Manager in 1971  

2 Colonel Hemchandra Ramchandra Adhikari – Popularly known as Hemu, Hemchandra Ramchandra Adhikari became the next successor and official Head Coach of team India in 1973. 

3 PR Man Singh – The first ever ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (1983) winning Head Coach, PR Man Singh got India their first big laurel and gave the team the confidence to make it huge in the sport. 

4 Ajit Wadekar – 

Ajit Wadekar became the Head Coach of the Indian Team in 1992. He led the team to the infamous 1996 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and was soon after the tournament. 

5 Kapil Dev: India’s first World Cup-winning captain was invited for the position of head coach in 1999. Unfortunately, his tenure remained short till 2000 as Manoj Prabhakar’s scandalous statement of Kapil Dev bribing him led the latter to resign. 

6 John Wright: John Wright became India’s first foreign coach in 2000, leading India to a series of victories against Australia, England, and Pakistan. Under him, the team reached the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003

7 Gary Kirsten: Considered one of the most successful head coaches for team India, Gary Kirsten led the experienced Indian team squad towards the victory of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011

8 Duncan Fletcher : 

Duncan Fletcher led the Indian cricket team towards the first-ever ICC Champions Trophy win in 2013 while focusing on fitness and discipline. 

9 Ravi Shastri 

Ravi Shastri has proven to be the most successful head coach for the Indian Cricket Team. Unfortunately, the team failed to win any major ICC tournaments under his reign but had consistently performed and won in bilateral games against various opponents. 

10 Rahul Dravid 

Previously, Rahul Dravid has helped young talents to flourish, and now he has been given the responsibility to lead the Indian cricket team from the front with his skills and experience in the sport.

Coaching can make or break a sportsperson’s career, as receiving the correct suggestions and tips at the right age is essential to build a career to work on strengths and weaknesses. Head coaches for the Indian cricket team have always put their best foot forward for the betterment and progress of the team. 

FAQ

Who was the first coach of Indian Cricket team?

The cricket administrator Keki Tarapore managed and became Team India’s first-ever head coach in 1971. Later, he was succeeded by the former Indian cricketer Colonel Hemchandra Ramchandra Adhikari (1971-74). 

Who was the Indian cricket team coach during World Cup 2011 victory?

Indian cricket team was coached by South African head coach Gary Kirsten, who led India to the famous 2011 World Cup victory.

Who was Indian team coach during 1983 World Cup win?

PR Man Singh was the man behind the success of Indian Cricket team. It was under his leadership that India was able to create history by winning the tournament by defeating West Indies in the final.

Who is the current India national cricket team coach?

Rahul Dravid is the current coach of the Indian National Cricket team. He took the mantel in 2021 and continues to serve the role. Under his mentorship, team India won the Asia Cup 2023.