Several cricketers have become legends through consistent performances and record-breaking achievements over the years. After retirement, many of them chose to stay connected to the game, becoming commentators, others took a break from cricket, while a few ventured into coaching roles. But, excelling as a player does not always guarantee success as a coach.
In fact, some of the greatest cricketers struggled to replicate their on-field success in the coaching arena. Here, let us take a look at three cricketing greats who shone as players but failed to leave a lasting impact as coaches.
Top 3 cricketers who were great players but failed as coaches:
3. Anil Kumble
The leg-spinner Anil Kumble was a legend in the Test format, claiming 619 wickets in his red-ball career along with 337 wickets in ODIs. In 2016, he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team for a one-year term. During his tenure, India achieved significant success, securing series wins against West Indies, New Zealand, England, and Bangladesh. Under his leadership, India also recorded a 19-match unbeaten streak in Tests on home soil and climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
But, despite the on-field success, Kumble’s stint came to an abrupt end in 2017 following the ICC Champions Trophy final, where India lost to Pakistan. He resigned from the role, pointing to an untenable relationship with former captain Virat Kohli. Although he delivered strong results, differences with players ultimately led to the end of his coaching tenure.
