Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has retired from the IPL as a player and has taken over as the bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings. L Balaji, who was the bowling coach of the Super Kings until last season, has taken a year off but will join the Super Kings Academy.
Starting in 2008, Bravo has played in the IPL every year except in 2017, when an injury prevented him from turning out for Gujarat Lions. He was first signed by the Mumbai Indians in 2008 and stayed with the team for three seasons before being bought by the Super Kings in the 2011 auction. When the Super Kings were suspended for two seasons – 2016 and 2017 – Bravo was picked up by the Lions before being retained by the Super Kings in 2018.
Bravo is the highest-ever wicket-taker in the IPL, with 183 wickets from 161 matches. The all-rounder has also scored 1560 runs at a strike rate of around 130, playing key parts in many victories for the Super Kings. The 39-year-old Bravo franchise said in a statement,
“I’m looking forward to this new journey because it’s something I see myself doing after my playing days is fully over. I enjoy working with bowlers and it’s a role I’m excited about. From player to coach, I don’t think I have to adjust much because while I’m playing, I always work with bowlers and try to come up with plans and ideas on how to have that one step ahead of the batsmen.”
“The only difference is I will no longer be standing at mid-on or mid-off! I never thought I would be the leading wicket-taker in the history of IPL. But I’m just happy to be a part of IPL history!.”
Bowling Boots 🆙
Coach Cap 🔛Yours Yellovely, #SirChampion @DJBravo47 💛 pic.twitter.com/GkH2aDRkJ4
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 2, 2022
Part of West Indies’ golden generation of Twenty20 superstars who won the Twenty20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, Dwayne Bravo joins the CSK teams in coaching roles.
In addition, his long-time international teammate, all-rounder Kieron Pollard, announced his retirement from the IPL as a player on 15 November, joining Mumbai Indians as a batting coach, having been with him throughout the IPL.
Like Pollard, Bravo hasn’t completely retired as a player. He is currently playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 with Delhi Bulls and has been signed by MI Emirates for next year’s inaugural ILT20 in the UAE where Pollard will be his captain.
With Super Kings, where he became an integral part of the team, he was involved in three of the four victories of the CSK franchise in 2011, 2018 and 2021, missing out in 2010. (Some data is taken from ESPNcricinfo.)
Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said Bravo’s vast experience will be of great help to the players and staff.
“He has been a crucial member of the Super Kings family for more than a decade, and we are excited to continue the association. Bravo’s vast experience will be of immense value to our players and support staff. We are confident that our bowling group will thrive under his guidance.”
All these players and ex-players are running to play and coach in India like it’s a gold rush and yet they are complaining about racism and being treated like slaves I am guessing that the the money that they are making overshadow those sentiments until their playing and coaching days are over in India then the call for better treatment will come out. MONEY what a powerful weapon to possess.