There are multiple tough jobs across the globe and coaching the Indian Cricket Team remains one amongst them. One might ask what is so difficult about coaching the team, and the answer lies in the weight of expectations attached with it. For any new coaching staff, it comes off like a mountain to climb as they get to witness the amount of pressure that comes with the role.
The top coaches who have coached the Indian team have played a pivotal role in redefining eras with their training methodologies, rising through the tough times and managing the diverse personalities within the squad. Here are the top 5 most successful head coaches for the Indian Cricket Team who have etched themselves in the memories of Indian cricket fans.
1. Gary Kirsten
One coach who led India to glory after 28 long years needs to be on top of the list. Gary Kirsten was running the academy after his retirement from international cricket and the BCCI pitched the role to him. However, he did not pick it up instantly as he was still skeptical about players agreeing on a foreign coach after the Chappell debacle. However, with the team showing immense trust, he took up the task.
While he coached India to the Kitply Cup and Asia Cup finals in 2008, the team fell short. However, for the first time in 40 years, India won the ODI series in New Zealand by defeating the home side and also won the 2009 Compaq Series against Sri Lanka. In the Kirsten era, India dominated across all formats. The most memorable moment of Gary Kirsten’s career came in 2011 when India lifted the ODI World Cup for the first time in 28 years. After winning the game against Sri Lanka, he was carried on shoulder by Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Virat Kohli to mark their respect for his contribution to Indian cricket.
2. Rahul Dravid
India won their last ICC trophy in 2013 and came close to winning on several occasions but it was Rahul Dravid, who ended the drought. Rahul Dravid did not only contribute to the senior team but also tasted victory with the junior teams. Before taking up the job at the senior level, he had shown his capability as a mentor at Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils.
Taking up the job after the Ravi Shastri era, Rahul Dravid coached India over 140 games and won 71.5% of the games, across all competitions and formats. He has the highest win percentage amongst all the Indian coaches in the 21st century. While he coached the side to two finals, World Test Championship 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023, he had to wait till the 2024 T20 World Cup to taste the success of a trophy that eluded him as a player.
3) PR Man Singh
After two disastrous World Cups, India were headed to the third World Cup in 1983 with no hopes. However, there was one man who held his dreams tight. It was none other than PR Man Singh, who led his side to the glory of 83- a watershed moment in Indian cricket history.
India had a winning odds of 66/1, a massive underdog in the betting world. However, post winning the tournament, he ensured that Wisden and their editors, “Eat their words”. PR Man Singh led India to multiple wins all the way till the 1987 World Cup, where India could not progress beyond the semifinals.
4) Ravi Shastri
One of the most celebrated cricketers, who was also successful as a coach, Ravi Shastri is known for his quirky talks and witty jokes as an Indian coach. Taking up the coaching stint post-Kohli-Kumble debacle, Ravi Shastri ensured that the team environment was stabilized and also ingrained the winning mentality in the team.
Ravi Shastri holds the record of coaching the highest number of games as an Indian head coach with 184 games and maintained a 65.8% win ratio. While he came close to winning multiple ICC accolades as the coach, India always fell short in the knockout stages.
However, the Test dominance in Ravi Shastri remains unmatched as India won multiple ICC Test Maces, winning home and away. The most famous victory remains a win in Gabba (Brisbane), thereby winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the second time in Australia.
5) Duncan Fletcher
After Gary Kristen wanted to return to his home soil after the 2011 ODI World Cup, the reins were handed over to Duncan Fletcher on Gary Kirsten’s recommendation. However, it was not an easy ride. India faced big losses and whitewashes, home and away, bringing criticism.
However, Duncan Fletcher redeemed himself when he coached the side to win the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Coaching India over 170 games, Duncan Fletcher had a winning percentage of 53.8.
He was close to winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2014 before India failed in the finals. The Dhoni-Fletcher combination took the Indian team to different heights in ODI cricket. After the ICC World Cup 2015 semifinals, BCCI chose not to extend his contract but the memories of that era will remain as one of the highest amongst the fans.
