IPL 2019: Head coach and other support staff of all 8 IPL teams
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a cash-rich form of franchise cricket, not only for the players but also for the coaches and the support staff. Almost at par with EPL, La Liga or the NFL with relevance to the coaching standards, the IPL offers all of them associated with it a way to interact with the best and earn quite a few bucks in a less than two month period.
With so much at stake and a fixed team purse, the teams go all out with their spending on their coaches and support staff, to get the best people for the job in order to ensure the necessary support to their players.
With teams, barring a few, opting for changes in personnel almost after every season of the IPL, it's important to keep a tab on the current coaches and staff to get an idea of what to expect in IPL 2019.
Disclaimer: This article has incorporated the existing staff of all eight teams as of 26 December 2018.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Head coach: Stephen Fleming (NZ)
Stephen has been an indispensable part of CSK since 2008. His association with the team began as a player in 2008, and then as a coach since then. For the time period, CSK was banned from the IPL, Stephen continued his association with IPL as the coach of the Pune Supergiants.
His standing relation with M.S.Dhoni has been key for the CSK's fortunes in the IPL. They have combined together to win the IPL in 2010, 2011 and 2018 season, and also have two Champions League (CLT20) 2010 and 2014 trophies in their kitty.
Batting coach: Mike Hussey (AUS), Bowling coach: Lakshmipathy Balaji (IND)
Hussey and Balaji were both successfully associated with CSK during their playing careers, and since retirement, both have joined CSK in the 2018 season in their current roles.
Bowling consultant: Eric Simons (SA)
A former South African cricketer, Eric was associated with the Indian national cricket team for the period 2010-12.
Fielding coach: Rajiv Kumar (IND)
Dhoni's former Ranji captain and current coach of the Jharkhand state team
Physiotherapist: Tommy Simsek
Team Manager: Russell Radhakrishnan