India National Cricket Team Coaches

Rahul Dravid, currently holding the esteemed position of team India head coach, ranks 24th among the India National Cricket Team coaches who have steered the squad throughout the past hundred years.

The momentous day of June 25, 1932, marked India’s recognition as a Test-playing nation, joining the elite ranks of countries like England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, and New Zealand.

Interestingly, for an extended period, the India National Cricket Team coaches role was non-existent, with the team relying on a manager to oversee the behind-the-scenes activities.

Here’s a comprehensive rundown of the India National Cricket Team coaching staff and managers since 1971, showcasing the best cricket coaching in India.

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India National Cricket Team Coaches List

We have also embedded data in the form of a table about the best India National Cricket Team coaches of all time that cricket enthusiasts like you should indeed be aware of.

Serial No	Team India 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

India National Cricket Team Coaches –

Keki Tarapore

Hailing from Karnataka, Keki Tarapore wasn’t just known as a cricketer but emerged as one of the pioneering figures among India National Cricket Team coaches.

While his tenure in first-class cricket was brief, marked by a singular Ranji Trophy appearance, it was his coaching prowess that garnered widespread admiration.

Elevating the stature of the India National Cricket Team coaches, in 1971, Tarapore took on the critical responsibility of team India head coach, a role that cemented his reputation in the Indian cricketing sphere.

His appointment to this significant post was indicative of his unmatched skills and insight into the game.

For those chronicling the milestones of Indian cricket, Tarapore’s name is inscribed as a pioneer, initiating a new epoch in the art of coaching at the apex level of the India National Cricket Team.

This marked the genesis of a coaching legacy that would guide and shape the careers of numerous cricketers, raising the bar for the best cricket coaching in India.

Under Tarapore’s stewardship, the trajectory of Indian cricket was steered towards unparalleled success.

His influence continues to resonate within the India National Cricket Team coaching staff, serving as an eternal flame that inspires countless individuals aspiring to coach.

PR Man Singh: India won the first ICC World Cup under him

Under the leadership of PR Man Singh, who served as the team manager and not exactly a coach, the India National Cricket Team achieved the prestigious accomplishment of clinching their first ICC World Cup.

Over the preceding 12 years, post Tarapore’s guidance, the direction of the India Cricket Team coaching staff underwent noticeable transformations.

It became a trend for the team to lean on the expertise of ex-players, and the team India head coach position saw a shift towards stability.

By the dawn of 1992, the best cricket coaching in India witnessed a pivotal change. The India National Cricket Team coaches were now secured under extended contracts, moving away from short-term tour-based assignments.

In this era, the position of team India head coach was graced by individuals like Chandu Borde and Bishan Singh Bedi.

As a result of the new direction, renowned India National Cricket Team coaches figures like Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, and Madan Lal were brought on board with longer commitments, further enriching the legacy of coaching in Indian cricket.

India’s Coach for the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup Was Ajit Wadekar

Ajit Wadekar, celebrated among the India National Cricket Team coaches, took charge of the team between 1992 and 1996.

As the pivotal India National Cricket Team coaches, he played a significant role in guiding the squad during the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup, alongside captain Mohammed Azharuddin.

His unique position in the best cricket coaching in India is further solidified by his diverse roles – a standout Test player, a formidable captain, the team India head coach, and notably, the chairman of selectors.

Within the lineage of the India National Cricket Team coaching staff, names like Lala Amarnath and Chandu Borde shine alongside Wadekar, marking their multifaceted contributions to Indian cricket.

Kapil Dev’s Controversial Time As Indian Cricket Team Coach

Kapil Dev, an icon in the annals of the India National Cricket Team coaches, faced a tumultuous period during his coaching tenure.

Following the Indian team’s inability to reach the knockout rounds in the 1996 and 1999 World Cups, the BCCI ushered in Kapil Dev, India’s revered World Cup-winning captain, replacing Anshuman Gaekwad in the role of the India National Cricket Team coaches.

Initiating his role as team India head coach, he marked a home series victory against New Zealand. However, subsequent series saw India facing defeats against Australia abroad and a home Test series loss to South Africa with Sachin Tendulkar leading the team.

The baton of captaincy was then handed over to Sourav Ganguly for the ODI series against South Africa.

Under his leadership, India clinched the series 3-2. But the cricket world was soon rocked by the revelations of the match-fixing scandal involving Hansi Cronje.

To add to the brewing storm, Manoj Prabhakar dropped a bombshell, alleging Kapil Dev’s involvement in a bribery incident during a 1994 series.

These shocking claims exerted immense pressure on the best cricket coaching in India, leading to Kapil Dev’s resignation from the India National Cricket Team coaching staff.

John Wright Was The Team’s First Coach From Outside of India

In an effort to revamp its image after the match-fixing debacle, BCCI took a significant step by appointing John Wright, the former New Zealand cricketer, as the India National Cricket Team coaches in 2000.

This marked him as one of the notable India National Cricket Team coaches from foreign shores.

With the dynamic leadership of Ganguly and the adept management acumen of Wright, India carved its mark with commendable triumphs both domestically and internationally.

This golden phase of the best cricket coaching in India saw iconic moments like India’s celebrated victory in the 2001 Kolkata Test against Australia, clinching series on Pakistani soil, and notable Test wins in England and Australia.

Under Wright’s guidance as the team India head coach, the country soared to the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup finals.

However, by 2005, this key figure in the India National Cricket Team coaching staff chose to step down from his position.

The Well-known Time of Greg Chappell

The Greg Chappell chapter in the annals of India National Cricket Team coaches was one marked by turbulence.

Contrary to the harmonious relationship that John Wright shared with then-captain Sourav Ganguly, Chappell’s tenure witnessed a polar opposite dynamic.

The public discord with Ganguly culminated in the captain relinquishing his leadership role and even his spot on the team, with the baton being passed to Rahul Dravid.

As the India National Cricket Team coaches, Chappell’s term saw the team secure 32 victories in 62 matches over three years. This tumultuous era concluded with Chappell’s departure in 2007.

Gary Kirsten: First Foreign India Coach and World Cup Winner

Transitioning to a brighter phase in the best cricket coaching in India, Gary Kirsten’s entry in 2008 brought renewed optimism.

Preceding his tenure, India saw brief coaching stints with Ravi Shastri and Lalchand Rajput at the helm.

Even though Rajput paved the way for India’s inaugural T20 World Cup win in 2007, he made way for Kirsten in just a few months.

Embarking on his journey as team India head coach with MS Dhoni leading the side, Kirsten steered India to pinnacle success, achieving the no. 1 spot in Test rankings.

His crowning moment, undoubtedly, was guiding the India National Cricket Team coaching staff and players to clinch the coveted World Cup trophy in 2011, ending a 21-year-long wait.

Post-Gary Kirsten, Duncan Fletcher stepped into the role of India National Cricket Team coaches from 2011 to 2015.

Guiding the Men in Blue to the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy triumph, Fletcher’s era was predominantly characterized by victories in the limited-overs format.

MS Dhoni’s leadership genius was often recognized as a prime catalyst for India’s feats. Yet, a new chapter began when Ravi Shastri, a former cricket maestro, ascended as the team India head coach.

Initially, Shastri’s selection raised eyebrows, as many in the cricketing circles believed Anil Kumble might have been a fitting choice.

However, the dynamics between Shastri and the then-captain, Virat Kohli, resonated more harmoniously than with the more strict Kumble.

India Went to New Heights Under Ravi Shastri

Together, Shastri and Kohli became a formidable pairing in the annals of India National Cricket Team coaches and captains.

Under Shastri’s guidance, India maintained the pinnacle position as the no. 1 Test team globally, a feat that lasted an impressive 42 months from 2016 to 2020.

His coaching statistics are commendable, boasting a win rate of 58.10% in Test matches, 67.1% in ODIs, and a striking 69.20% in T20Is.

Among the accolades in the best cricket coaching in India, Shastri masterminded victories like the 2018 Asia Cup win and significant successes against Australia on their turf.

Additionally, his stint as a key figure in the India National Cricket Team coaching staff saw the rise of pace bowlers under bowling coach Bharat Arun, with names like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami emerging as red-ball cricket stalwarts.

Rahul Dravid is the Current Coach of the Indian Cricket Team

The current epoch of Indian cricket witnesses Rahul Dravid as the India Nationanl Cricket Team coaches.

After orchestrating the U-19 team’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup and mentoring the next-gen at the National Cricket Academy, Dravid took over the coaching mantle in 2021 with Rohit Sharma captaining the side – India National Cricket Team coaches.

So, that’s the information about the India National Cricket Team coaches that will enhance your knowledge about the world of cricket and if you want to know more news about the India National Cricket Team, you can visit 7CricBuzz, the best Indian cricket site.

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FAQs About India National Cricket Team

Who is the current coach for the India National Cricket Team?

Rahul Dravid is the current coach for the India National Cricket Team, serving from 2021 to 2023.

Which coach led India to their first ICC World Cup victory?

Under the leadership of PR Man Singh, the India National Cricket Team achieved the prestigious accomplishment of winning their first ICC World Cup.

Who was the first foreign coach for the India National Cricket Team and what were his achievements?

John Wright was the team's first coach from outside of India. Under his guidance, India reached the finals of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup.

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