IPL 2020 will commence on 19th September with a clash between the defending champions Mumbai Indians and three-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings. For the first time in 12 years, the IPL will take place in the second half of the year. Generally, the tournament happens during the Indian summer.
The importance of the coaching roles will be very high in IPL 2020, because almost all players have zero match practice heading into the world's most competitive T20 league. Apart from helping them with their game, the coaches will also have to motivate them mentally to bring out their best.
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The competition level will be sky high in IPL 2020. Hence, to have a former IPL winner in the backroom staff would help the team management and the players. From the current lot, the following five coaches are IPL-winning players.
5. Ricky Ponting - Head coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020
Ricky Ponting is the head coach of Delhi Capitals, and played a significant role in the team's turnaround last year as they finished third in IPL 2019.
The Shreyas Iyer-led outfit will be keen to improve their performance this year and win IPL 2020. Ponting is a World Cup-winning captain and he has also won the Indian Premier League title.
The Australian legend played only two IPL seasons. In 2008, he could not make it to the semifinals with Kolkata Knight Riders, but five years later, he lifted the trophy while playing for the Mumbai Indians.
4. Ryan Harris - Bowling coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020
Another IPL-winning player present in the Delhi Capitals coaching staff is Ryan Harris. The Australian fast bowler joined the Delhi backroom staff last month as their new bowling coach.
Harris will coach Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Mohit Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Harshal Patel and the other quick bowlers at the Delhi Capitals. The right-arm fast bowler was a part of the Deccan Chargers squad that won the IPL in South Africa eleven years ago.
The 40-year-old was making his IPL debut in 2009, and his six wickets played a crucial role in the Deccan Chargers' success.
3. Mohammad Kaif - Fielding coach of Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals have one of the best groups of coaches in IPL 2020 as their fielding coach Mohammad Kaif is also an IPL-winning player. The former Indian cricket team star played for the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL season.
The right-handed batsman played a significant role in the team's championship win as he featured in the playing XI of all matches. Kaif scored 176 runs in 14 innings for the Royals, and he also took eight catches in the field.
Delhi's team owners will expect the trio of Kaif, Ryan Harris, and Ricky Ponting to guide the youngsters to perfection in IPL 2020.
2. Michael Hussey - Batting coach of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020
Former Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey is one of the few players to have scored a century on his IPL debut. The southpaw from Western Australia hit a ton against the Kings XI Punjab in the second game of IPL 2008.
In the next five years, Hussey won two championships with the Chennai Super Kings. He switched to Mumbai Indians in 2014 but returned to Chennai the following year.
The 45-year-old veteran is the batting coach of the MS Dhoni-led franchise in IPL 2020. Upcoming stars Ruturaj Gaikwad and Narayan Jagadeesan will look forward to improving their batting skills under Hussey.
1. Lakshmipathy Balaji - Bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020
Lakshmipathy Balaji was a part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the IPL trophy in 2010. The right-arm medium-fast bowler picked up seven wickets in seven matches that season.
Chennai released him in 2011, and he joined the Kolkata Knight Riders next. Balaji once again became an IPL champion as Kolkata won the title in 2012, and scalped 11 wickets in eight games that season.
The veteran pace bowler also made it to the IPL final in 2014 while playing for Kings XI Punjab, but they lost the final to Kolkata. Nevertheless, Balaji's teams performed exceptionally well in the IPL.
After retirement, he coached Kolkata and later joined Chennai's backroom staff. CSK have retained him as their bowling coach for IPL 2020.
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