Shane Bond greeting Rohit Sharma before the MI vs RR match
DK standing up and telling jokes during post-match sessions turned out to be as memorable as the dugout reactions that became trendy internet memes, proving to everyone that coaches are entertainers as well as strategists. While the games were intense and full of action, these sideline moments brought smiles and happiness to everyone worldwide. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the list of moments when the coaches became entertainers.
Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans faced each other in a heated clash, as the winner of the game gets a spot in Qualifier 2. With the match hanging on a thread for the Mumbai Indians, their coach, Mahela Jayawardene, was giving some tips to Jasprit Bumrah, who was standing at the deep. However, it seemed like Bumrah had some plans of his own as he told the coach that he’ll do things in his own way. At this time, both Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan had created immense pressure on the Mumbai Indians.
Yet a playful gesture by Bumrah to ignore the coach’s advice ended up on several meme pages following MI’s win by 20 runs. Bumrah was also the key player as he dismissed Sudharsan at the score of 80, turning the match in their favour. Maybe this was also a way for Boom Boom to show the coach that he does not need to worry when Bumrah’s overs are remaining in the game. After all, he is known as the cheat code for wickets whenever he plays for India or the Mumbai Indians.
Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow SuperGiants had a below-par performance this season, as they finished in the league stages, despite having the highest-paid player. At the auction, Sanjiv Goenka’s team signed Rishabh Pant for a whopping total of 27 crore INR, and he was also announced as the team captain. But he failed to showcase his captaincy skills, due to which a hilarious moment also took place between him and the team’s mentor, Zaheer Khan. This incident took place in the match between the Lucknow SuperGiants and the Delhi Capitals.
Batting first, Lucknow SuperGiants were not able to perform well as the team scored just 159 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. In this game, the score could’ve been higher but the captain decided to drop himself to number 7, and he also got bowled out to Mukesh Kumar towards the last ball of the innings. Following that, he was also seen having a chat with the Mentor Zaheer Khan, and it looked like a serious conversation between them. Some fans even say that Zaheer would be asking Pant whether he has taken 27 crore INR just to sit in the dugout or make his team lose even in critical games. In the post-match interview, Pant also said that his team was short by at least 20 runs while batting first, which allowed DC to get the 20-run victory.
Punjab Kings have undoubtedly entered a new phase of domination in the Indian Premier League, with the help of their new captain, Shreyas Iyer, and coach, Ricky Ponting. Former Australian captain, known for his intense captaincy skills, Ponting also showcased some funny moments throughout his journey in the IPL, as a player and a coach too. One such incident also took place in the IPL 2025 season, when Punjab Kings finally marked their spot in the playoffs, ending an 11-year hiatus since their last playoff appearance.
In the post-match interview, involving the coach Ricky Ponting, he talked about how the dressing room scenario has been changed ever since the announcement of Shreyas Iyer as the captain. Yuzvendra Chahal, who is the oldest and also the funniest player of the team, had his name taken by Ricky Ponting in a hilarious manner. The coach said that the team treats Yuzvendra Chahal and the bus conductor in the same way, bringing in a touch of humour with this comparison.
Ashish Nehra, the coach of the Gujarat Titans, had various moments in the Indian Premier League, along with his international career. But as a coach, he has undoubtedly entertained the fans more from the dugout, while also instructing his team to some impressive wins. We all know Ashish Nehra as the calm coach, as some fans even call him the Coconut Coach, who is able to make the best decisions by drinking the coconut water. But in the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, which took place on 29 March, fans saw a serious yet hilarious reaction from him.
Gujarat Titans were batting first in the game and had a great start with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan dominating the MI bowlers. However, towards the death overs, when their score was expected to reach 200, the team lost 5 wickets in the last 13 balls. With players going off to the crease and coming back to the dugout in just a few minutes, Ashish Nehra got furious and gave a serious reaction to the same, which was also caught on camera. He must’ve felt like “Yeh Kya tha”, to the dismissal of every batter towards the end. In the end, Gujarat Titans still managed to secure a win by 36 runs, but Nehra’s reaction remained insane.
In the IPL 2025 season, Rahul Dravid has mostly been in the wheelchair, due to the injury he suffered before the commencement of the season. But there has also been an incident when Dravid stood up in his wheelchair, in joy, which was done by none other than Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The 14-year-old had already impressed the fans and senior players with his skills, but his best came when he scored a century in the match against the Gujarat Titans. He also made the record for the fastest century by an uncapped Indian player in the history of the IPL.
Not only was his century mesmerising for the fans, but the way Rahul Dravid stood up from his wheelchair, celebrating the junior’s milestone, also created some headlines. It can also be said that the innings were so good that it helped Vaibhav Suryavanshi to heal his coach, Rahul Dravid. This moment was meant to be wholesome, but it ended up being one of the most hilarious reactions given by the coaches in the IPL 2025 season. Some fans even say that Dravid went down in a wheelchair to see which of his teammates could make him stand proud.
Even though IPL 2025 featured many thrilling games and impressive performances, it was the comedy show that took place away from the pitch that surprised fans most. The likes of Ashish Nehra, Ponting and Dravid not only played well, but also made the news with their quirky and funny moments. These incidents demonstrated that cricket has emotions, personality, and surprising moments that allow fans to relate more deeply to the sport. Fans enjoyed watching their heroes playing with bats and balls, but they admired their coaches for being smart, lively and genuine all the time.