IPL 2025 - Hemang Badani Appointed as Head Coach of Delhi Capitals
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
The Delhi Capitals have finalized their support staff for the next two IPL seasons, with former Indian cricketers Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao taking on key roles. Badani has been appointed as head coach, while Rao will serve as the team's director of cricket. This decision marks a shift for the franchise as they move away from big-name hires like Ricky Ponting, who was head coach for seven years.
Badani and Rao, long-time teammates for MRF in the Chennai league, share a deep professional understanding, which has contributed to their selection. The duo has been given the freedom to choose the rest of the coaching staff for the team. Both have prior experience with Delhi Capitals' affiliates in international leagues, such as the ILT20 in the UAE and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US, where they worked with Dubai Capitals and Seattle Orcas, respectively. These teams are owned by Delhi Capitals co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi of the GMR Group, one of the franchise’s joint owners alongside the JSW Group.
Delhi Capitals Retain Rishabh Pant
Regarding the Delhi Capitals' star player, Rishabh Pant, there has been speculation following his cryptic social media post on October 12. Despite the uncertainty, Pant is expected to remain with the team. The franchise is giving him space while he fulfills his Test cricket commitments, with confirmation of his retention anticipated by the end of the month. Delhi Capitals have until October 31 to finalize their player retention.
In broader IPL news, several big-name players are reportedly opting not to be retained by their current teams, instead choosing to enter the auction to test their market value. The introduction of the new Right to Match (RTM) rule has made this possible, as it allows teams to match the highest bid for a player, potentially driving up the value. This rule has empowered player agents, particularly those representing international talent, to negotiate better contracts. Some discussions have already begun behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over the location of the upcoming Indian Premier League auction, with Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and even Vienna being considered. The auction is expected to take place by the end of November, and teams are eager for a decision to finalize travel plans for their delegations.
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