It’s been just over a month and a half since IPL 2023 ended, but preparations for the next edition are already in full swing. Two franchises, Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, recently made headlines for changes in their coaching staff. LSG appointed Justin Langer as their new head coach, while RCB is reportedly looking for new coaching staff after Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar’s contracts expired.
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Hesson has overseen the team fairly successfully for four seasons, while Bangar was appointed as the batting consultant of the team ahead of IPL 2021 before becoming the head coach for the next two seasons. Reports have emerged of the franchise looking elsewhere after they failed to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2023.
However, it’s worth noting that RCB made it to the playoffs of the three seasons prior, coinciding with Hesson and then Bangar joining the franchise. Changing coaches has proved to be a masterstroke at times in the IPL, with a fresh coach bringing in fresh ideas that have overturned the fortunes of an underperforming franchise.
Three instances where changing the coach worked in favour of a franchise
Mahela Jayawardene Replacing Ricky Ponting at MI in 2017
Under Ricky Ponting’s coaching, MI won their second IPL title in 2015. The following year, they failed to make the playoffs, and the franchise appointed Mahela Jayawardene as the head coach. The Jayawardene-Rohit Sharma partnership became one of the finest in the IPL, winning a record third title in 2017 and consecutive title triumphs in 2019 and 2020.
MI became the team to beat in the league and one of the finest to have played T20 cricket. Although Mark Boucher took over as MI head coach ahead of the 2023 season, Jayawardene continues to remain associated with the franchise as their global head of performance across their sister sides across the world.
Ricky Ponting Replacing Paddy Upton at Delhi Capitals in 2018
Ponting didn’t coach an IPL team in 2017, but he joined the Delhi Daredevils as their head coach ahead of the mega auction in 2018. Paddy Upton and Rahul Dravid were the head coach and mentor, respectively, for a couple of seasons before a fresh start followed. The Daredevils finished at the bottom of the pile in 2018, but they underwent a rebranding as the Capitals, with Shreyas Iyer handed the full-time captaincy.
They broke a six-season playoff drought with a hat-trick of qualifications from 2019 to 2021, also making the final of the 2020 season. Ponting has often been credited with this turnaround, even though some of the decision-making in crunch moments has come under criticism. The Capitals under Ponting have been a marked improvement on the teams they put out on the park in the preceding seasons.
Darren Lehmann Replacing Robin Singh at Deccan Chargers in 2009
Before the inaugural IPL season in 2008, many thought that the now-defunct Deccan Chargers had one of the strongest teams on paper. However, they finished with the wooden spoon despite boasting a team full of superstars. Robin Singh was the side’s head coach, but he was replaced by Australian Darren Lehmann ahead of the 2009 edition in South Africa.
Along with skipper Adam Gilchrist, the duo witnessed the Chargers script an incredible redemption as they lifted the title instantly before qualifying for the semifinals in 2010. Lehmann’s reputation as a coach skyrocketed soon after his stint with the Chargers, and bringing him on board proved to be a masterstroke for the one-time IPL winners.
