IPL 2021: 3 Cricketers Who Were Player Of The Team And Then The Same Team Adds Them As A Mentor

For an Indian Premier League (IPL) team, each and every player and support staff is very crucial, just like for any other teams in any other competition. Coaches, mentors, team manager, physiotherapist, video analyst and others come into the support staff of a team.

In the IPL history, we have already seen many superstars. There are some names who are very special for an IPL team. Even after ending their career as a player, the IPL team can’t think to leave them and adds the retired player for the coaching or mentor role of the team.

Here we are talking about the three cricketers who served for the IPL team as a player and later joined the same IPL team as a mentor.

IPL 2021: 3 Cricketers Who Were Player Of The Team And Then The Same Team Adds Them As A Mentor

Virender Sehwag – Kings XI Punjab

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag played 104 IPL matches between 2008 and 2015, where he scored 2728 runs (average 27.55; strike-rate 155.44), including two centuries and 16 half-centuries. After serving for Delhi Daredevils (DD) from 2008 to 2013, Sehwag played for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in 2014 and 2015. In IPL 2014, he played massive role for KXIP to finish as the runners-up in that season.

After retiring as a player, Sehwag spent as a team mentor for KXIP for three seasons, 2016, 2017 and 2018. But during his mentorship period for KXIP, his team finished in the 8th, 5th and 7th positions respectively. Before the IPL 2019 auction, Sehwag ended his five consecutive years of journey with KXIP.

Shane Warne – Rajasthan Royals

The legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne led the Rajasthan Royals to create history in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008, where they finished as the champions. Even after his IPL career as a player (2008-2011), where he took 57 wickets in 55 matches, Warne has attached with this IPL team for most of the times in various roles, including as a Head Coach.

Currently, Shane Warne is also a co-owner of Rajasthan Royals. In the IPL 2018 and IPL 2020, Warne was also a mentor of this franchise. While Rajasthan Royals were the fourth best team in the IPL 2018, they finished in the eighth or last position in the IPL 2020.

Sachin Tendulkar – Mumbai Indians

During his IPL career as a player, the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar only served for Mumbai Indians (MI). Tendulkar scored 2334 runs in 78 IPL matches (average 34.83; strike-rate 119.81), including one century and 13 half-centuries. He also played the captaincy role of that team between 2008 and 2011. He was also a member of Mumbai Indians’ first-ever IPL victory in 2013 edition.

Even after ending his career as a player, Sachin Tendulkar has continued his journey with Mumbai Indians as a mentor. Now, Mumbai Indians have won five IPL trophies, as they have won IPL 2015, IPL 2017, IPL 2019 and IPL 2020 after winning their first trophy in IPL 2013.