The Indian men's cricket team is unbeaten in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign and will meet Australia in the final on Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Players often get credit and criticism for the success or failure, but credit should also be given to the coaches and support staff who work relentlessly to keep them fit and ready to play. (Streaming | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
The Indian cricket team's coach and support staff have been working together for a long time, and it is because of their hard work and support that the Indian squad has advanced to the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Let us have a look at the men behind the curtains who help the players in every aspect of their cricketing journey:
Rahul Dravid (Head Coach)
After Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid was named head coach of the Indian National Cricket Team. Dravid took over in 2021, and since then, his approach to the players has been commendable.
Dravid already has coaching experience with a national team. In 2018, Dravid led the U-19 squad captained by Prithvi Shaw to a World Cup triumph. He has a talent for getting along with youngsters and making them feel at ease in a team setting. He is also noted for guiding youngsters and keeping them in a healthy state of mind. Nobody can help youngsters with their technical shortcomings better than him. And he's shown that during the last two years of coaching. His fine-tuning with captain Rohit Sharma has also proved crucial for the Indian side.
Vikram Singh Rathore (Batting Coach)
After the 2019 ODI World Cup, Vikram Singh Rathore took over as batting coach, replacing Sanjay Bangar. Rathore has amassed over 11000 runs with 33 centuries as a first-class batter despite his lack of international experience. Rathore has appeared in six test matches, scoring 131 runs in ten innings at 34.20. He has also appeared in seven One-Day Internationals, scoring 193 runs at an average of 27. His term was extended to 2021. Rathore is well-known for assisting young people with technological issues. He is seen working closely with Shubhman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Rathore also played a pivotal role in the rise of Rishabh Pant as a test batter.
Paras Mhambrey (Bowling Coach)
For a long period, Paras Mhambrey worked closely with Rahul Dravid's U-19 and India A teams. He has cultivated a pool of young Indian fast bowlers who bowl with high speed and precision. Mhambrey assisted Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, and Prasidh Krishna in their initial years. In November 2021, he was named bowling coach. With Bharat Arun's departure, Paras had huge shoes to fill and he has been successful. He possesses all of the qualifications to propel the bowling section to new heights. Mohammed Shami was also spotted on the ground offering him praise with a gesture after capturing five-wicket hauls twice in this World Cup.
T Dilip (Cricket Fielding Coach)
T Dilip was an all-rounder throughout his playing days. He belonged to the Cheerful Club, the New Blues, and the Deccan Chargers. He, however, has had a lifetime interest in coaching. T Dilip has completed a Level 3 coaching course and has previously worked with the Hyderabad team as well as the India A side. Rahul Dravid has heaped accolades on him and commended his work attitude. He has been working closely with the team since 2018. In 2021, Dilip took over from his colleague R Sridhar. To make fielding more engaging in this World Cup, he has added an award for the best fielder in the match to create a pleasant environment for fielding in the squad. Indian fielding standards have only been better since Dilip's inclusion in the support staff.
Nitin Patel (Physio)
Nitin Patel has been involved with the Indian circuit for almost a decade. He was a member of the Indian squad in 2007 and the 2015 World Cup before joining the Mumbai Indians as a physio. Patel returned to the squad after Patrick Farhart left following the 2019 ICC World Cup in England. He played a key role in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2021. Injuries happened in every match. Nitin Patel, the man behind the scenes, worked tirelessly to prepare players for matches. And he has been working closely with the players in this World Cup as well.
Sohum Desai (Strength & Conditioning Cricket Coach)
Sohum Desai has long been a member of the Indian team. He was Nick Webb's assistant until the 2019 World Cup. He took over as Strength and Conditioning Coach when Webb stepped down. Desai has worked at the NCA and has a strong rapport with the players. He is an expert in his area and assists players with their ailments. He regularly examines players after each game to ensure they are fit and healthy for the next game, as well as looking after their food.
Paddy Upton (Mental Conditioning Cricket Coach)
Paddy Upton returned to the Indian men's cricket team's dressing room last year as a mental conditioning coach. After departing the Indian team on a high note, with India winning the World Cup in 2011, Upton remained as the performance director of South Africa's men's side for three years. He has honed the players' mental toughness in high-pressure circumstances. Virat Kohli has lauded his efforts on several occasions, and he has been vital not just for Kohli but also for the entire Indian team.
S Raghu (Throwdown Specialist)
S Raghavendra is a key member of the Indian cricket team's support staff, and his speciality is throwing the ball quickly. Because of his extraordinary ability to consistently fire missiles at batters for 140-150 kph, Mahendra Singh Dhoni describes him as the squad's lone "foreign pacer," while Virat Kohli openly praised for the role he has played in fine-tuning his technique at the batting crease. Raghu may be as energetic as Haris Rauf or Mitchell Starc by pounding the surface and making the ball kick off a length. It's the kind of delivery that Indian batters struggle with on fast and bouncy surfaces like those found in Australia and South Africa. He has played a pivotal role in India’s rise as the best batting unit overseas. In this World Cup as well, training batters and making them match-ready against the bouncers and high-speed deliveries have been continuous work for Raghu.
