Rahul Dravid (Rajasthan Royals)
After finishing his role as the head coach of the Indian cricket team following their T20 World Cup win in 2024, Rahul Dravid became the head coach of Rajasthan Royals. His coaching achievements include leading India to the WTC 2023 Finals, ODI World Cup 2023 Finals, Asia Cup 2023 victory, and the T20 World Cup 2024 title. Dravid replaces Kumar Sangakkara, who was the team's former head coach and director of cricket.
As a coach, Dravid has won 103 out of 144 matches, with a winning rate of 71.5%. This is the highest win percentage among Indian team coaches since 2000. Under Sangakkara, Rajasthan Royals did well in the league stages but struggled in the playoffs. Dravid is seen as the right person to fix this issue and help the team do better in the knockout rounds.
Other staff members: Shane Bond and Vikram Rathour.
Mahela Jayawardene (Mumbai Indians)
Mahela Jayawardene will stay on as the head coach for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season. Despite a poor performance last season, where they finished at the bottom of the table, the team is aiming for a better result this time. He coached the team from 2017 to 2022, and led Mumbai Indians to multiple titles under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, including back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020.
Last season, Mark Boucher took over as head coach, and Jayawardene’s return could help Mumbai Indians claim their sixth IPL title. This would put them at the top of the list for the most IPL trophies. During his time as coach, Mumbai won three titles in six seasons and placed in the league stages in the other three. A strong leadership from Jayawardene after a two-year break could also help Hardik Pandya and the team secure another title.
Other staff members: Paras Mhambrey, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga.
Stephen Fleming (Chennai Super Kings)
Stephen Fleming, one of the longest-serving coaches in the Indian Premier League, will remain with Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming season. After playing for the team in 2008, he took over as head coach in 2009. Under his leadership, Chennai Super Kings won five IPL titles and reached the playoffs numerous times. This made them one of the most successful teams, alongside Mumbai Indians.
Although there was a change in captaincy last season, with Ruturaj Gaikwad taking over from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings almost made the playoffs under Fleming’s leadership. Moreover, Fleming also coaches teams like Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket. Due to his continued success at Chennai Super Kings, the team decided to retain him for the current IPL season. They recognize him as one of the top T20 coaches globally.
Other staff members: Michael Hussey.
Ashish Nehra (Gujarat Titans)
Ashish Nehra was a key bowler for the Indian cricket team, and contributed to many wins. He became the head coach of Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, their first season in the tournament. Under his leadership, the team won the IPL title in their debut year.
In the following season, Gujarat Titans stuck with Hardik Pandya as captain and Ashish Nehra as coach. The team reached the finals again, but lost to Chennai Super Kings in a close match. Last season didn’t go well due to captaincy changes, but Nehra is determined to bring the team back on track. He focused on strengthening the squad with key purchases during the auction.
Other staff members: Parthiv Patel.
Daniel Vettori (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
For the 2025 IPL season, Daniel Vettori will serve as the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team aims to secure another title following their 2016 victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. The team has been strong recently. They have explosive batters and bowlers who can dominate opponents.
As a coach, Vettori is well-respected, with a successful history in the IPL. He also serves as the assistant coach for the Australian Men's cricket team. Between 2014 and 2018, Vettori led Royal Challengers Bangalore, guiding them to the 2016 finals. In 2023, he took on the role of head coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and led them to finish as runners-up in 2024.
Other staff members: James Franklin, Hemang Badani, Muthiah Muralidaran.
Andy Flower (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Andy Flower will remain the head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the IPL 2025 season after guiding the team to a remarkable recovery in the 2024 season. Despite starting from the bottom of the standings, RCB managed to reach the playoffs.
Before joining RCB in 2024, Flower coached Lucknow Super Giants during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, where the team reached the playoffs in both years. Although RCB struggled early on in the season, including a string of losses, they bounced back and secured a playoff spot, even with some players absent due to T20 World Cup commitments. With a new captain on board for the upcoming season, Flower will continue his role as the head coach.
Other staff members: Malolan Rangarajan, Dinesh Karthik, Omkar Salvi.
Justin Langer (Lucknow Super Giants)
Justin Langer, renowned for his exceptional batting with the Australian cricket team, earned recognition in Test cricket. He represented Australia from 1993 to 2007, later serving as the head coach from 2018 to 2022. After his tenure with Australia concluded, Langer became the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants in July 2023.
The 2024 season posed challenges for the team, but Langer remains determined to lead them to improved performances in the upcoming IPL season. The team strengthened its squad during the Mega Auction, and with Langer’s proven coaching abilities, his leadership will play a crucial role in their recovery. His tenure with Australia, particularly after the ball-tampering scandal, demonstrated his skill in maintaining stability and driving consistent performance across various formats.
Other staff members: Zaheer Khan, Lance Klusener, Jonty Rhodes.
Hemang Badani (Delhi Capitals)
Delhi Capitals has made a coaching change for the IPL 2025 season, replacing Ricky Ponting with Hemang Badani. Badani, a former Indian batsman, steps in as head coach with the hope of improving the team’s performance. Alongside this change, the team has made several adjustments in the Mega Auction, which could help them make a strong push for the playoffs.
What many fans may not know is that Hemang Badani has had success as a coach in T20 leagues, including the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League). His extensive experience leading teams in various T20 competitions made him the preferred choice for Delhi Capitals. With Badani at the helm, fans are excited to see if the team can secure their first IPL title in 2025.
Other staff members: Munaf Patel.
Chandrakant Pandit (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Kolkata Knight Riders will continue with Chandrakant Pandit as head coach for the IPL 2025 season after Gautam Gambhir left to become head coach of the Indian cricket team. Pandit's guidance led the team to a dominant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, ending their 10-season IPL title drought.
Changes in the team's strategy, introduced by Pandit, have brought a fresh dynamic to the squad. His coaching career includes stints with various teams, especially in domestic cricket, where he achieved success with Mumbai’s cricket team. Vidarbha benefited from his leadership, winning back-to-back Ranji Trophy titles in 2018 and 2019. Later, as the coach of Madhya Pradesh, Pandit led them to their first Ranji Trophy title.
Other staff members: Dwayne Bravo, Abhishek Nayar, Bharat Arun.
Ricky Ponting (Punjab Kings)
Punjab Kings has decided to appoint Ricky Ponting as their head coach for the IPL 2025 season. After leaving Delhi Capitals under unclear circumstances, Ponting was quickly sought after by the Kings to take on the coaching role. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen, he has also earned a reputation as a highly skilled coach in T20 leagues. Between 2019 and 2021, he led Delhi Capitals to three consecutive playoff appearances. Ponting's time with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 2016 also saw impressive results.
The recent seasons have been challenging for Punjab Kings, but with Ponting leading them, the team aims to bounce back. A change in leadership, combined with Ponting’s guidance, may be just what the team needs to secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Other staff members: Sunil Joshi, Brad Haddin, Charl Langeveldt.
Conclusion
Changes in coaching staff across several IPL teams highlight the desire for improvement as they aim to rebound in the coming season. This brings in new strategies and leadership, which could play a crucial role in strengthening their performance. Meanwhile, teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders have opted to retain their current head coaches, hoping to build on the solid foundations from the previous season.