Delhi Capitals (DC) have officially announced the replacements of legendary cricketers Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting for the positions of Director of Cricket and team's head coach ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. The Delhi-based franchise has named former India cricketers Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao have joined the franchise as Head Coach (IPL) and Director of Cricket (IPL) respectively.
Venugopal Rao, who participated in three IPL seasons with the Delhi Daredevils (2011–13), was a member of the 2009 IPL-winning side, the Deccan Chargers and played 16 One-Day Internationals for India. Additionally, he has been a member of the Dubai Capitals family, mentoring in the first and as Director of Cricket in the next season.
With 40 ODIs and four Test matches under his belt, Badani has an outstanding coaching resume that spans leagues. He was employed by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League from 2021 to 2023, first as a batting coach and then as a fielding coach. Additionally, he guided the Jaffna Kings team to two Lankan Premier League championships in a row. In the first SA20 tournament, Badani was also the batting coach for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape team, who won the championship. The 47-year-old led the Dubai Capitals team that advanced to the ILT20 championship this year as their head coach.
Rao and Badani on appointment
"My association with the franchise has been a long-standing one, and I am thankful for the trust our owners have placed in me by offering me this role. I look forward to this new challenge ahead of a new IPL cycle," said Rao.
"It’s my absolute honour to be joining Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners for trusting me with the job. With the mega auction around the corner, my job, in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff, is cut out. I can’t wait to get started," said new head coach Badani.
Ganguly gets massive promotion
There were rumours stating that Delhi Capitals might be parting ways with former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. However, the franchise proved that they are nothing but rumours after they announced major promotion for the legendary player by naming him the Director of Cricket for JSW Sports. He will now not just be looking after DC in IPL but will be spearheading their all cricketing operations including the Delhi Capitals Men’s IPL and Women’s WPL teams, and the Pretoria Capitals that plays in the SA20 League in South Africa.
"I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the JSW Group and the Jindal family personally and professionally which made this an easy decision. JSW Sports has been doing visionary work across the board, and I am pleased to be able to lend my experience to all its cricketing projects," said Ganguly.
