IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals appoint Hemang Badani as head coach, Venugopal Rao as director of cricket | Cricket News
Delhi Capitals on Thursday announced Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao as their new head coach and director of cricket for the Indian Premier League (IPL) respectively. Meanwhile, on the same day, JSW Sports, the co-owners of the franchise appointed Sourav Ganguly as the director of cricket with his role covering all its cricketing properties including the Delhi team in the IPL and the WPL along with the Pretoria Capitals franchise in SA20.
Ganguly joined Delhi Capitals in 2019 as an advisor, where he worked alongside coach Ricky Ponting, and later returned to the franchise as Director of Cricket after his stint as BCCI president.
Meanwhile, Badani represented India in 4 Tests and 40 ODIs an has worked with Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2021-23 as a fielding coach and a batting coach in successive seasons. He has also coached the Jaffna Kings franchise to two consecutive Lankan Premier League titles.
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We’re delighted to welcome Venugopal Rao & Hemang Badani in their roles as Director of Cricket (IPL) & Head Coach (IPL) respectively 🫡
Here’s to a new beginning with a roaring vision for success 🙌
Click here to read the full story 👇🏻… pic.twitter.com/yorgd2dXop
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 17, 2024
He was also the batting coach for the title wining Sunrisers Eastern Cape side in the inaugural edition of the SA20. The 47-year- old was also Head Coach of the Dubai Capitals side that reached this year’s ILT20 final.
“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.” Badani said after his appointment.
Rao, meanwhile, played 16 ODIs for India and was a part of the 2009 IPL winning squad with Deccan Chargers as well as playing 3 seasons of the IPL with Delhi Daredevils (2011-13).
