• Home
  • Cricket News
  • 5 Cricketers Who Served As Coach And Player For The Same Ipl Franchise

5 Cricketers Who Served As Coach And Player For The Same IPL Franchise

Rahul Dravid played for the Rajasthan Royals from IPL 2011 till IPL 2013 (x.com)Rahul Dravid played for the Rajasthan Royals from IPL 2011 till IPL 2013 (x.com)

The prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to serve as a grooming platform for aspiring young players worldwide.

Moreover, the hallowed arenas of this tournament have also emerged as a reliable plan for numerous aging and retired cricketers. Some of these players, especially during the twilight stages of their professional playing careers, also tend to be entrusted with an opportunity to serve their respective franchises as head coaches, either simultaneously or otherwise.

Here at OneCricket, we look at five such cricketers in the history of the IPL who have served a single franchise as a player and its head coach.


Cricketers to play and coach the same IPL franchise

Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)

Shane Warne simultaneously led and coached Rajasthan Royals in their formative years (BCCI)Shane Warne simultaneously led and coached Rajasthan Royals in their formative years (BCCI)

Late Shane Warne simultaneously captained and coached the Rajasthan Royals franchise from the inception of the IPL in 2008 up until 2011. During his run, the Royals even won the inaugural edition by defeating tournament favorites CSK in a high-octane final. While Warne announced his retirement as a player in 2011, he served as Rajasthan Royals head coach for an additional year alongside Rahul Dravid’s captaincy.


Stephen Fleming (Chennai Super Kings)

Stephen Fleming, IPL's longest-running coach for any franchise, with MS Dhoni (x.com)Stephen Fleming, IPL's longest-running coach for any franchise, with MS Dhoni (x.com)

Stephen Fleming opened the innings for CSK in the inaugural IPL season back in 2008. The following year, the New Zealander relinquished his playing role to become the head coach of the franchise, a profile he continues to hold and cherish to this day. During his 13-year coaching stint, the CSK lifted the IPL title a record five times.


Rahul Dravid (Rajasthan Royals)

Rahul Dravid shouldered the responsibility of captain and coach for RR (x.com)Rahul Dravid shouldered the responsibility of captain and coach for RR (x.com)

Rahul Dravid joined the Rajasthan Royals playing group in 2011, became their captain in 2012, and announced his retirement as a player following the conclusion of IPL 2013. Notably, Dravid was also appointed team mentor of the Rajasthan Royals the following year, and they even reached the playoffs under his guidance in 2015.


Ricky Ponting (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting celebrating Mumbai Indians' maiden IPL win (x.com)Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting celebrating Mumbai Indians' maiden IPL win (x.com)

Mumbai Indians acquired Ricky Ponting as a player and a captain in 2013. However, the legendary Australian batter opted himself out of the side midway through the season in favor of next-gen superstar Rohit Sharma. Ponting also head coached the franchise for two years, in 2015 and 2016, and guided them to title victories in one of them.


Jacques Kallis (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Jacques Kallis was appointed as KKR coach after a successful playing stint (BCCI)Jacques Kallis was appointed as KKR coach after a successful playing stint (BCCI)

South African batting great Jacques Kallis played four seasons for the KKR from 2011 till 2014. During KKR’s title victory of 2012, the broad-shouldered top-order batter gorged himself with a 409-run season. In 2016, Kallis was appointed as KKR’s head coach, a role he justly served till 2019.