From Kirsten's World Cup triumph to Dravid's World Cup dreams, India's cricket journey under exceptional coaches is interesting to watch.
The eternal discussion about the role of a coach in sports mirrors the age-old question of their importance. Do we ever question the significance of a teacher in a student's life? Would we ever doubt the importance of a mentor to an individual undertaking a teaching fellowship? In international cricket, it becomes evident that coaches who have recently excelled often share a distinguished background as former prominent players, who haven't strayed too far from the game to make team a success. Australia was in dire situation during Micky Arthur's tenure, and it was only when Darren Lehmann assumed the role of the coach that the tides began to shift for Michael Clarke and his squad. Let’s explore some of the remarkable coaches who have steered the Indian cricket team to glory.
Who can forget the massive world cup win of 2011? India cricket coach Gary Kirsten could not have asked for a better send off as he guided the team to a historic World Cup triumph at the Wankhede stadium. In March 2008, the reins of the Indian cricket team's coaching job were handed over to the former South African cricketer, Gary Kirsten, marking the beginning of a remarkable era. Kirsten's approach was distinct, as he preferred to work diligently behind the scenes, staying away from the glare of the limelight, and allowing the team's performance to be its own eloquent spokesperson. Under Kirsten's guidance, the Indian team achieved unparalleled success. They secured a historic home series victory against Australia. Not only did they claim the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy, but Kirsten also steered India to its inaugural bilateral series win in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, he masterminded India's first Test and One-Day International (ODI) series victories in New Zealand in over four decades, thus etching his name as one of the most accomplished coaches in the team's history.
On April 27, 2011, Duncan Fletcher assumed the role of coach for the India national cricket team, with a two-year contract, a recommendation stemming from the departing coach, Gary Kirsten. During Fletcher's tenure, the Indian team enjoyed a remarkable streak of success, notching up an impressive eight consecutive series victories. One of the crowning achievements during this period was the triumphant campaign in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where India emerged as the champions under Fletcher's astute coaching. He was the last foreign coach to Indian team in the Indian Cricket history.
Anil Kumble, renowned as a former pace ace for India, made a brief yet impactful foray into coaching the Indian National team. His relatively concise tenure yielded impressive results. With Kumble as the guiding force and Virat Kohli at the helm as captain, India soared to the pinnacle of Test cricket, securing victory in 12 out of 17 test matches. Under Kumble's astute mentorship, India found themselves in the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, although they fell short in a closely contested encounter against Pakistan. Despite the concise nature of his coaching stint, Kumble garnered resounding acclaim and won the hearts of the entire cricket fraternity.
We all know Virat Kohli's passion for cricket. The partnership of Ravi Shastri and Kohli worked because they both shared the same passion and the desire to win on foreign grounds. Known for his aggressive batting style, Shastri has provided valuable guidance to batsmen, helping them strengthen their weaknesses. Under Shastri, India achieved great things, like making it to the semi-finals of two global events - the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 World T20. They also managed to become the No. 1 Test team for eight weeks. Their shared commitment to excellence undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.
BCCI has entrusted the esteemed former captain, Rahul Dravid, with the monumental responsibility of steering the ship as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Dravid, who previously served as the head of the National Cricket Academy, accepted this responsibility for a duration of two years, culminating with the 2023 50-over World Cup in India. Under his astute leadership, the Indian team has notched up remarkable achievements, including securing a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, Asia Cup 2022, and the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship 2023 Finals. As the Indian cricket caravan hurtles forward, the anticipation and excitement are palpable as the team gears up to compete on the grandest stage of them all, the World Cup this year. Dravid's cricketing wisdom isn't solely limited to his coaching prowess; it's deeply rooted in his own illustrious career as a batsman.
In the spinning wheel of cricketing fate, the coach emerges as a silent yet powerful hand guiding the course of a team's destiny. From Gary Kirsten's unassuming brilliance to Duncan Fletcher's era of remarkable success, Anil Kumble's concise but impactful stint, and the passionate partnership between Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli, each coach has played a defining role in India's cricketing journey. Now, with Rahul Dravid at the helm, the team is poised to script new chapters of glory.
