IPL 2025: The IPL 2024 proved to be the most followed season of the tournament’s history, and the expectation from the 18th edition is even higher. There will be a mega auction scheduled where all teams are allowed to retain a limited set of players. All franchises are moving moves before the IPL 2025 mega auction. Delhi Capitals, who are searching for their maiden IPL title, have already parted ways with Ricky Pointing in July, and now they have brought a former Indian cricketer as head coach for the team.
DC finished the last season in sixth place and are desperate to win. On Thursday, the franchise announced former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani as the new head coach for the team ahead of the IPL 2025. He will be joining the team with two more former Indian stars. Former pacer Munaf Patel and batter Venugopal Rao will also join him in DC’s coaching setup as assistant coaches.
IPL 2025: Hemang Badani, Munaf Patel and Venugopal Rao to join Delhi Capitals (DC) for the 18th edition
The franchise has decided to go with all-Indian coaching staff. After Ponting, it will be Badani who will take the charge. Munaf is likely to handle the responsibility of bowling coach, whereas Venugopal Rao is all set to replace Sourav Ganguly as the director of cricket. Ganguly’s stint with the franchise is likely to end ahead of the IPL 2025.
The former BCCI President will no longer be associated with DC in the IPL, but he will continue to work as Director of Cricket with DC in the Women’s Premier League and also with Pretoria Capitals in SA20. Badani, who will replace Ponting, has played 4 tests and 40 ODIs for India, while Venugopal has represented the country in 16 ODIs and also played for three IPL teams, including DC.
Badani comes up with loads of coaching experience, having led Chepauk Super Gillies to four titles in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He has also coached Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League and was the batting coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape when they won the inaugural edition of the SA20. On the other hand, Munaf was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team and has played 13 tests and 70 ODIs for the country.
With GMR Sports taking over the responsibility of the franchise, the appointments of Badoni and Venugopal were expected as they hold Director of Cricket with them, which were involved in other leagues like ILT20 and MLC. Meanwhile, some reports also claim that the franchise are set to retain Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as the first three picks ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.