IPL 2018 Team coaches
Along with the captain, the team coach is equally responsible and crucial for the performance of a cricket team. The coach carves a winning path for the team and is equally involved with the captain in choosing the best eleven players for a match. Let us have a look at the coaches of the IPL 2018 teams and their hold on the teams.
Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
Rajasthan Royals have made a comeback in 2018 IPL after being suspended for couple of years and brought Shane Warne as their mentor. He played four IPL seasons from 2008 to 2011 with team as the captain and coach and he was highly successful throughout his career. His extra ordinary leadership skills helped his unpopular average team to finish the first edition of IPL as the winners.
Ricky Ponting (Delhi Daredevils)
Former Australian captain and three- time World Cup winner is appointed as the head coach of Delhi Daredevils franchise for this IPL season. He replaced Rahul Dravid who stepped down due to BCCI's conflict of interest policy. Ponting has previously coached Mumbai Indians for two seasons out of which they won the title in 2015.
Mahela Jayawardene (Mumbai Indians)
He became the head coach of Mumbai Indians last year and replaced Ricky Ponting. However, Mumbai Indians have multiple coaches in their team for every skill; Lasith Malinga along with Shane Bond as bowling coach, Robin Singh as bowling coach and newly appointed fielding coach James Pemment replacing Jonty Rhodes but the credit also goes to the head coach for winning the title last year.
Stephen Fleming (Chennai Super Kings)
He was a part of Chennai Super Kings in first IPL where the team became the runner up. He became the team coach in 2009 after retiring as a player. Under his leadership, CSK won the IPL title twice, both in 2010 and 2011 along with winning the Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014. This year, CSK has appointed him as their head after coming back from two-year suspension. Along with Fleming, Michael Hussey is appointed as their batting coach. The equation between Dhoni and Fleming is quite good, as both the captain and coach are known for their cool-headed nature.
Brad Hodge (Kings XI Punjab)
This year, Kings XI Punjab appointed Hodge as their head coach and Virender Sehwag as Director - Cricket Operations and team mentor. From last two seasons, Hodge was previously the head coach of Gujarat Lions. Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad will be their bowling coach.
Jacques Kallis (Kolkata Knight Riders)
He was appointed as the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders before the start of IPL 2016 season. He had been associated with the team after replacing previous head coach Trevor Bayliss. Kallis was also the batting consultant of KKR for 2015 IPL season. Previously, he also played an important role for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and made his team win the trophy by scoring 407 runs and taking 15 wickets.
Tom Moody (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
In the first two season of IPL, he coached Kings XI Punjab and joined Sunrisers Hyderabad as the coach in 2013. SRH finished in the top four that season. Under Moody's guidance, SRH won the IPL trophy in 2016 . In 2017, SRH reached to playoffs, but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator. He has also coached Sri Lanka during the 2007 World Cup finals.
Daniel Vettori (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
RCB retained former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori as their head coach, who has been coaching RCB since 2014 IPL season. Along with him, Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the batting coach and Ashish Nehra as the bowling coach. Additionally, they both will also play the role of mentor for the team.