Daniel Vettori

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Lore & Background

Daniel Vettori's connection with Royal Challengers Bangalore began not as a player but as head coach, a role he held from 2014 to 2018. During his tenure, he brought the tactical acumen and calm demeanor that defined his playing career. As a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, Vettori was known for his accuracy, flight and guile rather than prodigious turn. He had captained New Zealand between 2007 and 2011 and was New Zealand's most-capped Test and ODI cricketer, with 112 Test caps and 291 ODI caps. His experience as a leader who had guided New Zealand through challenging series, including a losing Test series in England and the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship, informed his coaching approach with RCB.

In Their Own Story

When Daniel Vettori took over as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014, he brought with him the legacy of a player who had been the youngest male to represent New Zealand in Test cricket at age 18. He had taken his 300th Test wicket in 2009, becoming only the second New Zealander to do so after Richard Hadlee. His 362 Test wickets remain second only to Hadlee, and he is New Zealand's leading ODI wicket-taker with 297 dismissals. Vettori was the first left-arm spin bowler to take more than 300 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. He had also been part of the New Zealand squad that finished as runners-up at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, after which he retired from all forms of cricket.

Reader's Guide

Daniel Vettori served as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League from 2014 to 2018. During this period, he drew on his extensive international experience as a former New Zealand captain and one of the game's most accomplished left-arm spinners. Vettori had captained New Zealand between 2007 and 2011, leading the team at the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. His coaching philosophy was shaped by his own playing style—accuracy, flight and guile rather than prodigious turn. He had also coached in other roles, including as spin bowling coach for the Bangladesh national team in July 2019 and head coach of the Caribbean Premier League franchise Barbados Royals in August 2021. In May 2022, he was appointed an assistant coach of the Australia men's national team, a role he remained in as of 2023.

Did You Know?

• Daniel Vettori was the youngest male player to represent New Zealand in Test cricket, making his debut in February 1997 at age 18.
• He was the first left-arm spin bowler to take more than 300 wickets in both Test matches and One Day Internationals.
• Vettori was the eighth player in Test cricket history to take 300 wickets and score 3,000 runs.
• He was named in the World ODI XI by the International Cricket Council in 2005, 2008 and 2010.
• Vettori was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to cricket.