IPL 2018: 5 best captain-coach combinations in the IPL
There are two important members of any team – one the captain, who runs the team and makes the decisions on the field, and the other the coach who remains backstage and works with the players. Over the years, we have seen a lot of successful captain-coach combinations. Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni, Ricky Ponting and John Buchanan, Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower are few of the best examples in the international circuit.
Even in the IPL, we have seen a lot of players bonding well with some coaches. Here we look at the five best captain-coach combinations in the history of the IPL.
#5 David Warner and Tom Moody – Sunrisers Hyderabad
Right from the time Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) replaced Deccan Chargers in 2013, Tom Moody has been at the helm for the Hyderabad franchise. However, it was only in 2015 that David Warner was made captain of the franchise.
Though 2015 was not a great season for SRH (they finished 6th), they built a good core during that period. Along with VVS Laxman and Muttiah Muralitharan, Tom Moody formed a very good combination off the field.
Warner and Moody quickly developed an excellent rapport and found a very good success mantra. They built a strong bowling unit and believed that it is ultimately the bowlers who are going to win them games. And that worked beautifully for them.
In 2016, their bowlers repaid the faith of the team management and eventually led them to the title. In 2017, they continued the same formula and it continued to work for them as it was mostly the bowlers who kept winning them games. They did make it to the playoffs, but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator.
Also, captaincy brought the best out of David Warner as he won the Orange Cap twice in three years. The combination is set to continue in 2018 as Warner has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad. They have a win percentage of almost 57%, making them one of the best captain-coach duos in the IPL.