Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Shane Warne and other former IPL players who later turned support staff

Some of the former IPL players have stayed with their franchises and either became coach or mentor.

Sachin Tendulkar (left), Rahul Dravid (centre) and Shane Warne are some of the successful IPL mentors © IANS & AFP

One of the most enthralling aspects of Indian Premier League (IPL) is that aging players get to feature even after their international retirement. Some of them have stayed with their IPL franchises though, either as coach or mentor. Shiamak Unwalla lists some of the former stars who went on to support their sides after retirement. IPL 2015 Highest run-scorer: List of best batsmen in IPL 8

VVS Laxman (right) with Sunrisers Hyderabad’s coach Tom Moody (left) and ambassador Krisnamachri Srikkanth © IANS

1. VVS Laxman

Played for: Deccan Chargers (DC), Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK)

Mentored: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

VVS Laxman was with Deccan Chargers for the first couple of seasons before being picked up by Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Laxman did not have a very productive stint as a player, but has since become the mentor of SRH. IPL 2015 Highest wicket-taker: List of best bowlers in IPL 8

Rahul Dravid with Rajasthan Royals’ batsman Steve Smith © IANS

2. Rahul Dravid

Played for: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Mentored: Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Rahul Dravid was the icon player for RCB in the first season of IPL. He stayed with the team till IPL 2010 before transferring to RR in IPL 2011. Dravid played 89 IPL matches in all, and scored over 2,000 runs. He is currently the RR mentor, with Paddy Upton as the coach. IPL 2015 Most 6s and 4s: List of most dangerous batsmen in IPL 8

Shane Warne will be remembered as the inaugural IPL winning captain © AFP

3. Shane Warne

Played for: Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Coached: Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Shane Warne was one of the most enterprising captains seen in IPL. He will forever be remembered as the first IPL-winning captain. Warne was both captain and coach for RR; a post he held from the inaugural edition of IPL till Dravid took over from him in IPL 2011. IPL 2015 Leading fielders: List of Best fielders in IPL 8

Sachin Tendulkar (right) with Mumbai Indians’ coach Ricky Ponting (left) and captain Rohit Sharma © IANS

4. Sachin Tendulkar

Played for: Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mentored: Mumbai Indians (MI)

There is little that can be said of Sachin Tendulkar that has not been said a hundred times over. Playing for MI from the inaugural edition of IPL till he retired in IPL 2013, Tendulkar scored 2,334 runs in 78 IPL matches with a highest score of 100 not out. Tendulkar is still with the team even now as a mentor. IPL 2015 most dismissals by wicketkeeper: List of best wicketkeeper in IPL 8

5. Ricky Ponting

Played for: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI)

Coached: Mumbai Indians (MI)

That Ricky Ponting only played 10 IPL matches across two seasons for different teams will remain one of the oddities of IPL. Picked by KKR in IPL 2008, Ponting could only play four games before national duty called. He made a comeback in IPL 2013, captaining MI for six games before being replaced by Rohit Sharma. Ponting was elected MI coach for IPL 2015. IPL 2015 schedule: IPL 8 match time table with venue details

Chief Mentor Anil Kumble (right) with co-owner Nita Ambani (centre) and Akash Ambani © IANS

6. Anil Kumble

Played for: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Mentored: Mumbai Indians (MI)

Though he played for and led RCB, Kumble was signed on as chief mentor of MI in IPL 2013. He remains with the side even now. Kumble is famous for leading RCB to the final in IPL 2009, as well as recording the best figures by a spinner in IPL when he took a mind-numbing five for five against RR in IPL 2009. IPL 2015 Points Table & Team Standings

Then Mumbai Indians coach Shaun Pollock (left) with Sachin Tendulkar © Getty Images

7. Shaun Pollock

Played for: Mumbai Indians (MI)

Coached: Mumbai Indians (MI)

After Sachin Tendulkar’s injury and Harbhajan Singh’s slap-gate fiasco, Shaun Pollock led MI for a few games in IPL 2008, and in fact rejuvenated their sagging campaign. He retired after the inaugural season, but returned as head coach of MI. After Robin Singh took over the role of head coach, Pollock became bowling coach. IPL 2015 Previews

Muttiah Muralitharan (extreme left) with Sunrisers Hyderabad players. (From second left) Trent Boult, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dale Steyn.

8. Muttiah Muralitharan

Played for: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Mentored: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Though Murali played 66 IPL matches across seven seasons for CSK, KTK, and RCB, he is currently with SRH as a spin-bowling mentor. Murali was with CSK from IPL 2008 to IPL 2011 before having an extremely productive season with KTK in 2012. He was purchased by RCB in IPL 2013 and 2014. IPL 2015: CSK, KKR, RCB, KXIP, MI, RR, SRH, DD full team details in IPL 8

Daniel Vettori with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s star batsman Chris Gayle © IANS

9. Daniel Vettori

Played for: Delhi Daredevils (DD), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Mentored: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

One of the most distinguished names of his generation in international cricket, Vettori started off his IPL career with DD. He played for them for the first couple of seasons before being elected captain of RCB. He started mentoring the side even while still an active player, and has stayed with them since his retirement in IPL 2012. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2015: Best chance for franchise to scalp maiden title

10. Jacques Kallis

Played for: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Mentored: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Kallis played nearly 100 IPL matches for RCB and KKR combined. He remains one of the leading all-rounders in IPL, with 2,427 runs and 65 wickets. Kallis had a productive time with RCB before switching to KKR. He played his last match in IPL 2014, and has since become mentor-cum-coach of KKR. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2015, Preview: A well-balanced unit with a hunger for success

11. Brett Lee

Played for: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Mentored: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

After playing for KXIP in his first few seasons, Brett Lee transferred to KKR. Though Lee had a decent stint in IPL, he was not as successful as he has been for his various franchises in the Big Bash League (BBL). Nonetheless, he was KKR’s bowling mentor in his final season with the team in IPL 2013. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015: Complete coverage

Stephen Fleming retired as a player in IPL 2009 and became coach, thereby being one of the longest-serving and most successful IPL coaches ever © IANS

12. Stephen Fleming

Played for: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Coached: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Though Stephen Fleming did not have a very productive time as a player for CSK, he has been invaluable to the team. He retired as a player in IPL 2009 and became coach, thereby being one of the longest-serving and most successful IPL coaches ever. Under his guidance, CSK won two consecutive IPL titles, two Champions League T20 (CLT20) titles, and never failed to reach the final four of IPL. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2015: Kings of consistency look to rule again

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)