Introduction
The Rajasthan Royals are an exceptional franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since its inception, the team has been known for bringing to light a plethora of emerging talents and grooming them into well-rounded cricketers. Many players from this renowned franchise have subsequently gone on to secure prominent roles as coaches, imparting their vast knowledge and extensive experience onto newer generations of cricket enthusiasts.In this article, we thought it would be interesting to spotlight these individuals who have donned dual hats with pride – performing phenomenally as Rajasthan Royals’ cricketers before transitioning seamlessly into promising coaching careers.
Rahul Dravid
When talking about Rajasthan Royals’ cricketers turned successful coaches, it is impossible not to begin with Rahul Dravid. Touted as one of the finest batsmen of his era, Dravid played an instrumental role in propelling minds-settle”>The Wall’, is also respected globally for his incredible technical prowess and ability to build innings under intense pressure.
Career Highlights at Rajasthan Royals:
- Dressed in the royal blue jersey, he captained the team between 2011-2013.
- Served as a mentor for young budding talents such as Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane.
- His strategic prowess was central to the Royals’ journey up to Playoff stage in IPL 2013.
Coaching Career:
- Hung up his playing boots after IPL 2013 and took over as coach for India A and India U-19 teams where he groomed many notable players.
- In 2020, Rahul was appointed Director of Cricket Operation by National Cricket Academy located in Bengaluru where he continues shaping future champions of Indian cricket.
Paddy Upton
Next on our list is Paddy Upton, the South-African born professional cricket coach, mental coach and former First Class cricketer. He was instrumental to Rajasthan Royals in multiple capacities from being an Assistant Coach to eventually shouldering responsibilities as a Head Coach.
Career Highlights at Rajasthan Royals:
- In his stint with Rajasthan Royals from 2009-2015, he contributed significantly towards the team’s success by nurturing talents like Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal.
- His tenure witnessed one of the finest moments in IPL history when Shane Watson scored an unbeaten century against Chennai Super Kings, showcasing the efficacy of his coaching techniques.
Coaching Career:
- Taking forward his legacy of batting expertise and mindful coaching, Upton worked as India’s mental conditioning coach under Gary Kirsten during their victorious 2011 World Cup campaign.
- He also coached Delhi Capitals for two seasons post his RR journey where he moulded upcoming players such as Rishabh Pant into world-class performers.
Ajinkya Rahane
A well known name to Indian cricket lovers, Ajinkya ‘Jinx’ Rahane, played a crucial role both within Team India and while representing Rajasthan Royals (RR). Known for his excellent shot selection and calm persona on field, Ranji Trophy winner moved on to use those skills off-field as well.
Career Highlights at Rajasthan Royals:
- <
li>Gained significant popularity during his stint with RR from 2011-15 & 2018-19.
- Showcased exemplary leadership skills by captaining the side in 2015 and other sporadic instances.
- His mesmerizing century (103 runs off just 60 balls) against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2012 remains embedded as an unforgettable moment in RR’s history.
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Coaching Career:
- Rahane started his coaching career with the Under-19 Indian cricket team to lead them into a successful Asia Cup campaign in December 2020.
The extraordinary journeys of these celebrated cricketers from being vital cogs in the wheel for Rajasthan Royals to further manifesting their love for the sport, through nurturing budding talent is quite heartwarming. The life journey and cricketing achievements of these players-turned-coaches clearly indicate that they continue to serve cricket with heartfelt dedication even after hanging up their boots. The undying passion and deep-rooted wisdom make them an unmissable part of our incredible chronicle on ‘Prominent Rajasthan Royals Cricketers Who Are Also Successful Coaches’.
