5 former IPL captains who are now coaches of franchises

IPL 2020 is just around the corner as the cricket universe gears up to witness a unique edition of the popular T20 competition. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's edition of the IPL will start in the UAE next month.

Almost all the players will have no match practice heading into IPL 2020, which is why the coaching staff's significance will increase by leaps and bounds this year. All IPL franchises have big names in their backroom staff, with most of them having participated in the IPL as a player as well.

In this article, we take a look at five former IPL captains who are now coaches of franchises.

Five former IPL captains who are now coaches of franchises:

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#5: Anil Kumble

(Captained RCB, Head coach of KXIP)

Anil Kumble played for his home franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first three seasons of the IPL.

After RCB had a dismal season in 2008, Kumble changed the fortunes of the team in 2009 by leading the franchise to their first IPL final in South Africa. Despite Kumble's best efforts in the bowling department, RCB could not beat Deccan Chargers in the summit clash.

Next year, RCB reached the final-four once again but ended the season in third place.

Kumble played 42 IPL matches in his career, scalping 45 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 6.58. He led RCB in 26 games, and under his captaincy, the franchise won 15 matches.

Kings XI Punjab have roped Kumble as their head coach for IPL 2020. The former Indian cricket team coach has formed a great group of players at the franchise. The Mohali-based franchise will start as one of the favourites to win IPL this year.

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#4: Brendon McCullum

(Captained KKR and GL, Head coach of KKR)

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum is one of the few batsmen to have scored a century on IPL debut. The wicketkeeper batsman was a part of Kolkata Knight Riders in the first three seasons of the IPL and then returned for another stint with the franchise in 2012-13.

McCullum got an opportunity to lead the Knight Riders in 2009. However, KKR could not make it to the last four of the IPL that year. Seven years later, the Kiwi player led the Gujarat Lions against Royal Challengers Bangalore, a match which the Rajkot-based franchise lost by 144 runs.

The 38-year-old has managed to win only three of 14 IPL games as captain. His former franchise KKR appointed him as their head coach for IPL 2020. It will be interesting to see how he fares in a different avatar.

#3: Ricky Ponting

(Captained MI, Head coach of DC)

Ricky Ponting was appointed as the head coach of Delhi Capitals in 2018.

Ricky Ponting will go down as one of the best leaders in cricket history. He captained the Australian team during their 'Invincible' era; under his captaincy, the Aussies won the 2003 and 2007 50-over World Cup tournaments.

Although he has been so successful as a captain, Ponting did not get a chance to lead an IPL team until 2013. Mumbai Indians appointed him as the skipper, but after six matches, Ponting dropped himself and named Rohit Sharma the new leader. The Australian legend has a 50% win record while captaining Mumbai.

After retirement, Ponting became a member of the Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise's backroom staff. In 2018, Delhi Capitals appointed him as their head coach.

The 45-year-old guided Delhi to third place in the IPL last year. In 2020, he will aim to take the team to its maiden title in the competition.

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#2: Mahela Jayawardene

(Captained KXIP, KTK, DD, Head coach of MI)

Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene captained three teams in the IPL. He first led Kings XI Punjab in 2010. Next year, he did it at Kochi Tuskers Kerala before Delhi assigned him the team's leadership.

Jayawardene has a win percentage of 33.33%, winning only 10 of 30 IPL matches.

After retirement, the Colombo-based batsman tried his luck in coaching. He served as the English team's batting consultant for a while in 2015. In 2017, Mumbai Indians selected him as Ricky Ponting's replacement in their coaching staff.

Under his guidance, Mumbai Indians who have won two IPL titles in three years, will look to end the franchise's 'even year jinx' in the competition.

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#1: James Hopes

(Captained DD, Fast bowling coach of DC)

James Hopes did not have a long international career for Australia, but the fast-bowling all-rounder made a name for himself in the IPL. Hopes played for three IPL teams: Delhi, Kings XI Punjab and Pune Warriors.

The all-rounder scored 417 runs and scalped 14 wickets in his IPL career. The Queensland native also led the Delhi Daredevils (now called Delhi Capitals) in three matches of IPL 2011.

Even though Delhi could not win any match under his captaincy, the franchise management was seemingly impressed by his skills when they signed him as their fast bowling coach in 2018.

Hopes is still a part of the backroom staff at Delhi Capitals and will look to play a crucial role in preparing the franchise's bowlers after the long break due to the COVID-19 outbreak.