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The head coach of a cricket team plays a crucial role in the success of the team. The head coach not only devises the team’s strategies and game plans, but also plays a role in selecting the playing XI. Additionally, the head coach is responsible for fostering a positive team environment and maintaining team morale. From the first coach of the Indian cricket team, till the recent one, this article speaks about the men who stepped up and became coaches of the national side.
In the annals of Indian cricket history, the role of coaching has evolved significantly. Back in the day, India did not have designated coaches but instead relied on team managers who traveled with the squad. Notably, Keki Tarapore, in 1971, is widely recognized as first India national cricket team coach. This marked a pivotal shift, and over the next decade, former cricketers predominantly became coaches of the Indian cricket team. The first coach of Indian cricket team was appointed and this marked a pivotal shift, and over the next decade, former cricketers predominantly became coaches of the Indian cricket team.
It wasn’t until 1992 that long-term coaching contracts replaced the prior tour-wise managerial roles. Throughout the 1990s, notable names like Ajit Wadekar, Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil, Anshuman Gaekwad, and the iconic Kapil Dev were all part of India cricket coach list.
In the year 2000, John Wright ushered in a new era as India’s first foreign coach, steering the team through challenging times following the match-fixing scandal. Wright’s partnership with captain Sourav Ganguly revitalized Indian cricket, nurturing talents like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Mohammad Kaif, and Ashish Nehra. Together, they secured remarkable Test series victories and a World Cup final appearance in 2003. INdian cricket team coaches since 2000 have all contributed to the success of the side.
There have been a total of 24 head coaches of the Indian Cricket Team in the past. Check the full list.
List of Head Former Coaches of Indian Cricket Team
| Serial No | Head coach | Duration | Nationality |
| 1 | Keki Tarapore | 1971 | India |
| 2 | Hemu Adhikari | 1971 – 1974 | India |
| 3 | Gulabrai Ramchand | 1975 | India |
| 4 | Datta Gaekwad | 1978 | India |
| 5 | Salim Durrani | 1980 – 1981 | India |
| 6 | Ashok Mankad | 1982 | India |
| 7 | PR Man Singh | 1983 – 1987 | India |
| 8 | Chandu Borde | 1988 – 1989 & 2007 | India |
| 9 | Bishen Singh Bedi | 1990 – 1991 | India |
| 10 | Abbas Ali Baig | 1991 – 1992 | India |
| 11 | Ajit Wadekar | 1992 – 1996 | India |
| 12 | Sandeep Patil | 1996 | India |
| 13 | Madan Lal | 1996 – 1997 | India |
| 14 | Anshuman Gaekwad | 1997 – 1999 | India |
| 15 | Kapil Dev | 1999- 2000 | India |
| 16 | John Wright | 2000 – 2005 | New Zealand |
| 17 | Greg Chappell | 2005 – 2007 | Australia |
| 18 | Ravi Shastri | 2007, 2015, 2017 – 2021 | India |
| 19 | Lalchand Rajput | 2007 – 2008 | India |
| 20 | Gary Kirsten | 2008 – 2011 | South Africa |
| 21 | Duncan Fletcher | 2011 – 2015 | Zimbabwe |
| 22 | Sanjay Bangar (Interim) | 2016 | India |
| 23 | Anil Kumble | 2016 – 2017 | India |
| 24 | Rahul Dravid | 2021-2023 | India |
In earlier times, India did not have a full-time coach for their cricket team. Instead, they had a manager who travelled with the squad. In 1971, Keki Tarapore was appointed as the manager and is widely recognized as India’s first coach ghostwriter. He held the position for a year before being succeeded by Hemu Adhikari, an army officer and cricketer.
During the following decade, the role of the coach went through several changes, often filled by former cricketers. One notable instance was when PR Man Singh, a former First-Class cricketer, served as the manager when India achieved a historic victory in the first-ever Cricket World Cup held in 1983. Singh played a crucial role behind the scenes as the team’s manager during their triumphant campaign.
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Who is the First Coach of Indian Cricket Team
The first coach of indian cricket team was Keki Tarapore, a cricketer hailing from Karnataka, is best known for his coaching prowess rather than his playing career, which was highlighted by a single Ranji Trophy match. Nevertheless, Tarapore earned immense respect among Indian cricketers for his coaching acumen. In 1971, he assumed the role of team manager for the national cricket team and is widely acknowledged as the inaugural coach in the annals of Indian cricket history.
PR Man Singh: Architect of India’s Maiden ICC World Cup Triumph
PR Man Singh, while not primarily a coach but a team manager, etched his name in history by leading Team India to its first ICC World Cup title. Over the 12 years following Tarapore’s coaching tenure, there was a notable transformation in the cricketing landscape. The Indian cricket team began to predominantly appoint former players and considered granting extended tenures to team managers. PR Man Singh remained at the helm as the team manager from 1983 to 1987.
By 1992, the Indian cricket team adopted a policy of offering long-term contracts to national team coaches instead of appointing them on a tour-by-tour basis. In the interim period, figures like Chandu Borde and Bishan Singh Bedi served as managers. This new policy ushered in an era of national team coaches with extended tenures, including luminaries such as Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal, and others.
Ajit Wadekar: India’s Coach in the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup
Former Indian cricketer Ajit Wadekar took the reins from 1992 to 1996 and guided India during the 1996 Cricket World Cup alongside Mohammed Azharuddin. Wadekar stands as one of the very few coaches for the Indian national cricket team who also had the distinction of serving Indian cricket as a Test player, a captain, a coach or team manager, and the chairman of selectors. Lala Amarnath and Chandu Borde also find themselves on this exclusive list.
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Prominent Team India Head Coaches from Last 10 Years
Kapil Dev – 1999 to 2000
Kapil Dev, who led the Indian team to its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1983 and is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport, was appointed coach of the Indian national cricket team in 1999, succeeding Anshuman Gaekwad. However, his tenure as coach was not as successful as anticipated.
India won only one Test match during that period, which was against New Zealand at home. The team also suffered significant series defeats, including a 3-0 loss in Australia and a 2-0 loss at home against South Africa.
John Wright – 2000 to 2005
John Wright, a former New Zealand cricketer, served as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team from 2000 to 2005. His appointment marked the first time a foreign coach was appointed to lead the Indian team.
During his tenure, Wright played a pivotal role in transforming the Indian cricket team’s performance. He formed a successful partnership with former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly during the early 2000s. Some of the most notable achievements during this period was India’s historic Test series victory over Australia in 2001, significant victories in Test matches in England and Australia, and reaching the final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
In 2004, India achieved another significant milestone under Wright’s coaching as they won a Test series during their historic tour of Pakistan. However, in 2005, Wright was replaced as the head coach of the Indian cricket team by Greg Chappell.
Greg Chappell – 2005 to 2007
Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team from 2005 to 2007. His tenure as the coach was marked by both notable achievements and controversies.
During his coaching stint, India achieved some notable victories. They won a Test series in the West Indies after 35 years, won 4-1 in an ODI series against Pakistan in Pakistan and also registered their first-ever Test win in South Africa.
However, Chappell’s tenure was also marred by controversies and internal conflicts. There were reported differences with senior players, including Sourav Ganguly, and the rifts within the team were widely discussed in the media. Ultimately, India’s disappointing performance in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, bachelorarbeit schreiben lassen where they were knocked out in the group stages, led to Chappell’s exit as the coach.
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Ravi Shastri – 2007, 2015, 2017-2021
Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri has had more than one stint as the head coach of team India. The first stint came in 2007, the second in 2015, and the third and most prominent one from 2017 to 2021.
Shastri and Virat Kohli formed a formidable coach-captain partnership. During their tenure, Team India achieved remarkable feats and maintained the top position in the Test rankings for an astonishing 42 months, from 2016 to 2020.
Under Shastri’s coaching, the team achieved significant success across all formats. In Test cricket, India won 58.10% of their matches. In ODIs, the team had a win percentage of 67.1%, and in T20Is, they had a win percentage of 69.20%.
The team emerged victorious in the 2018 Asia Cup under Shastri’s guidance. Additionally, India won a Test series against Australia twice on Australian soil. They also reached the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
Gary Kirsten – 2008 to 2011
Gary Kirsten served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team from 2008 to 2011. Kirsten, a former South African cricketer, played a crucial role in transforming the Indian team into a highly successful side.
During Kirsten’s tenure, India reached the pinnacle of Test cricket by becoming the top-ranked team for the first time in history. Under his coaching, India won several notable Test series, including a historic series victory against Australia in Australia in 2008. The team also achieved success in ODIs and won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, a significant milestone for Indian cricket. It was India’s first World Cup victory in 28 years.
Kirsten’s coaching stint came to an end after the 2011 World Cup, but his impact on Indian cricket remains significant. Several talented players saw the peak of their career under Kirsten’s guidance.
Anil Kumble – 2016 to 2017
Anil Kumble served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team from 2016 to 2017. During his tenure as coach, India reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, among a few other feats. But Kumble’s tenure was also marked by reported differences with some players, including the then-captain, Virat Kohli. This eventually led to his resignation as the head coach after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.
Rahul Dravid – 2021 to Present
Rahul Dravid, one of India’s most respected cricketers and a former captain of the Indian cricket team, became head coach of the team after Shastri’s exit in 2021. Dravid, who previously coached the India under-19 and India A sides from 2016 to 2019, is the current coach of the national side.
The pinnacle of Indian cricket in the 21st century came when Gary Kirsten became Indian cricke team coach. Under him, India won the 2011 World Cup and also became the number 1 Test side. Duncan Fletcher, Anil Kumble, and Ravi Shastri were names added to the Indian cricket team coaching list. Notably, Ravi Shastri and Ashok Mankad are the only coaches with multiple stints as Indian cricket head coach, with Shastri’s two terms (2015-16 & 2017-present) making him the longest-serving Indian coach to date.
Shastri’s coaching tenure witnessed India’s success in overseas Test matches, including notable victories in Australia and England, but the elusive World Cup title remained just out of reach. The ever-evolving roster of India national cricket team coaches reflects the dynamic history and continuous pursuit of excellence in Indian cricket.
