Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to appoint more Indian assistant coaches, arguing that local coaching staff can play a crucial role in helping young Indian players perform at their best. According to the legendary opener, language barriers and communication gaps can sometimes prevent domestic players from fully understanding instructions delivered by overseas coaches.  Over the years, overseas coaches have enjoyed considerable success in the IPL.

Stephen Fleming has guided Chennai Super Kings to five titles, while Mahela Jayawardene has led Mumbai Indians to three championships. Andy Flower has also made his mark in the tournament, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to back-to-back titles as head coach. Despite the success of international coaching figures, Gavaskar believes franchises should give greater importance to Indian support staff, particularly because domestic players make up the majority of every squad. Under IPL rules, teams can field a maximum of four overseas players in their playing XI.

In his column for Sportstar, Sunil Gavaskar highlighted how communication difficulties could affect young cricketers, especially those who come from smaller towns and are less comfortable speaking English. “Every franchise squad invariably has more Indian players, as only four overseas players can play in the XI. Plenty of the Indian players come from the interiors of the country, where English is not widely spoken. Therefore, when an overseas coach is speaking, much of what he says goes over the heads of these young players.”

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Gavaskar further explained that appointing Indian assistant coaches could help bridge this gap by making tactical instructions easier to understand. He also believes local coaches can create a more approachable environment for youngsters dealing with the pressure of playing in front of large IPL crowds.

“It makes perfect sense for the franchises to hire an Indian as an assistant coach who can translate and convey what the overseas coach is saying. It is easier for the youngsters to approach an Indian coach who can speak their language, empathise with them, and help them overcome the nerves and anxiety of playing in front of the huge crowds that the IPL attracts,” he added.

While several franchises already have Indian coaches in supporting roles, Chandrakant Pandit remains the most recent Indian head coach to win an IPL title, having guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the championship in 2024.

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Sunil Gavaskar also suggested potential candidates who could contribute to IPL coaching setups. Former India fast bowler Praveen Kumar, known for his swing and variations, and former leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, a member of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squad, were among his choices. He also mentioned Balwinder Singh Sandhu, highlighting the former India all-rounder’s knowledge of swing bowling and the game.

Meanwhile, IPL franchises are reviewing their coaching staff and squad combinations ahead of the upcoming player auction, scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16.