IPL 2018: 5 best captain-coach combinations in the IPL 

#4 Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann – Deccan Chargers

Adam Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers very well in 2009 and 2010.

After a very poor IPL in 2008 (where they finished last), the Deccan Chargers team management changed the entire support staff and also replaced their skipper (VVS Laxman) for the 2nd edition of the IPL.

Adam Gilchrist was entrusted with the captaincy while Darren Lehmann (who had played the first season as a player for Delhi Daredevils) was named head coach. The changes worked beautifully for the Hyderabad-based franchise as they went onto lift the IPL title that year (2009).

In that season, Deccan Chargers started off very well by winning their first four games. However, they couldn’t maintain the winning run as they lost a few close games before just about managing to sneak into the top 4. However, the way the side played in the semi-final and final was brilliant.

Gilchrist and Lehmann had excellent game plans in place, which were executed very well. DC defended 143 in the final to go from 8th place in the previous season to Champions in the next.

The success Gilchrist and Lehmann found meant that they continued their respective roles in 2010 and took the team to the semi-finals. In the 3rd edition of the IPL (2010), the Hyderabad-based franchise finished 2nd after the league stage but lost to a rampaging Chennai Super Kings in the semi-final.

In 2011, though Lehmann continued as the coach, Deccan Chargers let go of Adam Gilchrist. However, even though it was only for two years, the way Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann worked together was brilliant. In the 29 games that they were together for Deccan Chargers, the franchise won 17 of them.