IPL 2020: Full list of head coaches of all 8 teams for the season

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League will take place in April 2020. All the teams and their respective management committees have already set up their planning process. The auction for this mega-event will take place on 19 December 2019 in Kolkata. All the franchises would look to fill the gaps of their side and hope to perform better than IPL 2019.

Mumbai Indians are the defending champions of the league as they had defeated Chennai Super Kings by 1 run in the final of IPL 2019. It turned out to be one of the most exciting finals in the IPL history as the match went till the last ball.

All the franchises have declared their head coaches for the approaching season and as the coaches play a major role in the team building, they will play an important role in the IPL Auction. This article features the list of the head coaches of all the sides for IPL 2020.

1. Andrew McDonald – Rajasthan Royals

Following the average show of the Rajasthan Royals side in IPL 2019, the franchise owners have changed their head coach. The former Australian all-rounder, Andrew McDonald will replace Paddy Upton as the coach of Rajasthan.

Andrew McDonald has played for two IPL franchises – Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals. He had scored 123 runs and scalped 11 wickets in the 11 IPL games which he played.

He has been working with Team Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and has also trained Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. The Rajasthan Royals fans expect McDonald to lead their team to the trophy in 2020.

2. Brendon McCullum – Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders had finished at the 5th position in IPL 2019. The side could achieve only 6 wins from 14 matches. Keeping that performance in mind, the management has parted ways with Jacques Kallis and Simon Katich ahead of IPL 2020.

The Kolkata-based franchise has selected their former player, Brendon McCullum as the head coach for the upcoming edition of IPL. Brendon McCullum had been an integral part of this franchise during his active days as he had played an unbelievable inning of 158 runs for KKR in the very first match. Overall, he played 5 seasons for this franchise.

Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore feels that Brendon is the ideal guy to fill in this gap. Venky has great respect for Brendon and he believes that his leadership qualities, honesty, and aggressive style would prove game-changing for KKR in IPL 2020.

3. Anil Kumble – Kings XI Punjab

Anil Kumble has always been a leading contender in the coaching department having served as the head coach of the Indian side. The leg-spinner has never served as the coach of an IPL franchise however, he was the mentor of Mumbai Indians from 2013 to 2015.

Mike Hesson was the previous head coach of the Mohali-based franchise but, under his regime, the side had finished at the 6th position in IPL 2019. Just like KKR, KXIP won 6 out of the 14 matches but their inferior net run rate denied them a place in the playoffs. Because of KXIP’s poor outing, Anil Kumble will replace Mike Hesson as the team’s head coach in IPL 2020.

Kumble has already showcased his smartness by bringing valuable all-rounders Krishnappa Gowtham and Jagdeesha Suchith in the team. He will most likely hand over the reins of the team to KL Rahul.

4. Simon Katich – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore have never won an IPL season despite having a star-studded line-up every year. The side led by Virat Kohli has been trying their level best to win the prize but things have never fallen in place for RCB. Hence, the side has altered their coaching staff hoping that it may change their fortune in the upcoming IPL season.

RCB did away with the duo of Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra to recruit Simon Katich as their head coach and Mike Hesson as the Director of Cricket Operation. The Trans-Tasman pair has the experience of coaching IPL franchises in the past.

In fact, Hesson was even shortlisted for the Indian head coach’s job earlier this year. Katich and his associate possess sharp cricketing brains hence, they can lead RCB to their maiden title this season.

5. Ricky Ponting – Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals had shown great improvement in IPL 2019 as the Shreyas Iyer-led franchise finished at the 3rd position. They even won the Eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad but fell short to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2.

They had secured 18 points in the league stage with 9 wins in 14 games. The side had chosen Ricky Ponting as its head coach for the 12th edition of IPL and, given that the team fared well under the Aussie’s eyes, Delhi Capitals have not changed their head coach.

Also, Ponting was the mentor of the Australian team at the 2019 World Cup. While he will not have the support of the team’s ex-advisor Sourav Ganguly in 2020, the Australian veteran will try to take the Delhi Capitals all the way to their first IPL title.

6. Trevor Bayliss – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Trevor Bayliss had led the English team to their maiden World Cup in 2019 and, because of his extraordinary achievement, Sunrisers Hyderabad nominated him as their head coach for IPL 2020.

Bayliss will replace Tom Moody, who ended his association with the Sunrisers Hyderabad coaching staff after joining it in 2013. The franchise had even lifted the IPL title in 2016 under Moody’s management. SRH had finished at the 4th position last year with 6 wins from 14 matches.

Though Sunrisers Hyderabad have lost the services of Shakib Al Hasan ahead of the season and the team has not utilized the trade window, the fans will hope that Bayliss inspires Hyderabad to their second IPL championship in 2020.

7. Mahela Jayawardene – Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians has been the most successful team in IPL history, having won 4 titles in 12 seasons. One of the main reasons behind their success has been the presence of star players in their coaching staff. Be it Robin Singh, Jonty Rhodes, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble or Shane Bond, the Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise has always preferred to have legends in their coaching staff,

After Ricky Ponting’s switch to Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians had appointed Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach in 2017. The Rohit Sharma-led outfit won two IPL trophies under Jayawardene’s watch.

​Since the Sri Lankan legend has coached Khulna Titans and played the role of a batting consultant for the English cricket team, he will look to lead the Mumbai Indians to their second consecutive IPL triumph.

8. Stephen Fleming – Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings has been the most consistent team in IPL history. The three-time winners have always been in the Top 4 of the points and the key reason behind their success is their philosophy of not changing what is right. Stephen Fleming has been with the team since 2008.

He used to play for CSK in 2008 before the franchise elected him as their coach. The Chennai-based franchise kept Fleming as their head coach even in the year 2018 when the side came back after a ban of 2 years. Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni’s bond has been instrumental in CSK’s rise to the top.

As they had been the runners-up of the previous edition, the team management has not changed their coach. Also, the Kiwi legend knows the CSK squad very well. The franchise has expressed their interest in Tom Banton ahead of the auction hence, it seems like they will look to build a younger squad this time around.