Winning the IPL once is tough, but these legends did it twice—first on the field, then from the dugout!
Winning the IPL title is a dream. However, to win it twice—first as a player and then as a head coach—is a truly rare achievement! Only three cricketers have accomplished this remarkable feat, and guess what? They are all Australian! Let's take a look at the icons who have lifted the trophy from both the pitch and the dugout.
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Shane Warne was more than simply the face of the Rajasthan Royals in 2008; he was their captain, coach, and master strategist. Warne, acquired for $450,000, served as both captain and coach during the inaugural IPL season.
Under his guidance, Rajasthan astonished everyone by finishing first in the standings and winning the trophy in a dramatic final against the Chennai Super Kings. With 19 wickets and some valuable runs, Warne wasn't just calling the shots but also delivering them!
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Darren Lehmann may not have made headlines as an IPL player in 2008, but his name will forever be linked with the league's history. He played in only two matches for the Rajasthan Royals during their title-winning season, yet a year later, he made his most significant impact—from the sidelines.
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Lehmann took over the Deccan Chargers in 2009, transforming a weak team into champions. Adam Gilchrist and his teammates improved from last place in 2008 to trophy winners in 2009.
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Ricky Ponting's IPL adventure took a drastic turn. He was captain of the Mumbai Indians in 2013; however, after a series of poor performances, he stepped down in the middle of the season and was replaced by Rohit Sharma. What was the result? MI went on to capture their first-ever IPL title!
Credit: ICTU
Two years later, Ponting returned as head coach of MI, and history repeated itself. MI had a dreadful start in 2015, but they recovered to win their second title under his guidance.
