Delhi Capitals appoint ex-Ireland all-rounder as new fielding coach ahead of IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals have officially bolstered their coaching ranks by appointing former Ireland all-rounder John Mooney as their new fielding coach for the IPL 2026 season. With the tournament set to kick off on March 28, Mooney steps into the role previously held by Gnaneswara Rao and Anton Roux, both of whom moved on following the 2025 campaign.

John Mooney becomes Delhi Capitals' fielding coach

Mooney joins a revamped and highly experienced support staff led by head coach Hemang Badani. He will work alongside former Indian pacer Munaf Patel, who serves as the bowling coach, and former England international Ian Bell, the team's assistant coach. The entire sporting department is overseen by Venugopal Rao, who continues his role as the franchise's Director of Cricket for the 2026 season.

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The appointment brings a wealth of technical expertise and international experience to the Delhi dugout. Mooney holds Level 1, 2, and 3 coaching certifications from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and boasts a diverse resume. His previous stints include serving as the fielding coach for Afghanistan during their historic Test debut in 2018, working with the West Indies men’s team in 2019, and most recently providing coaching support to the Ireland women’s national team.

John Mooney's profile  

Mooney brings a wealth of international experience to the Delhi Capitals, having represented Ireland in 91 matches between 2006 and 2015. A versatile left-handed batter and right-arm quick during his playing days, the 43-year-old featured in three ODI World Cups and two T20 World Cups. He is perhaps best remembered for hitting the winning runs in Ireland’s legendary upset over England during the 2011 World Cup in Bengaluru, a moment that remains a highlight of his 64-ODI and 27-T20I career.

As the franchise prepares for the 19th season of the IPL, the squad will once again be led by Axar Patel, fresh off his triumph with India in the T20 World Cup 2026. The roster remains formidable, featuring seasoned Indian internationals like KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav, alongside the elite left-arm pace of Australia’s Mitchell Starc. However, the team did face a setback leading up to the tournament with the sudden withdrawal of their mentor, Kevin Pietersen. DC are eager to break their title drought after narrowly missing the playoffs last year, where they finished in fifth place with seven wins from 14 matches. Having never lifted the IPL trophy in the league's history, the revamped coaching staff and a core of world-class players will be under pressure to finally secure silverware when the season commences on March 28.