Delhi Capitals released their new staff with former Indian cricketers Hemang Badani, who has been appointed as the Head Coach, and Venugopal Rao, who has been named the Director of Cricket, ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction.
“We are more than thrilled to welcome Hemang and Venu to Delhi Capitals. Both have been affiliated with our team for years and we feel the time is apt for them to don a different hat. They have a pretty fair record in their coaching careers, and we feel that the experience they carry will be massive for us as we look forward to realizing our goals and success for Delhi Capitals,” said Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman & Co-owner of Delhi Capitals.
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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 ๐ซก
Here's to a new beginning with a roaring vision for success ๐
Click here to read the full story ๐๐ปโฆ pic.twitter.com/yorgd2dXop
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) October 17, 2024
My association with the franchise has been long-standing, and I thank our owners for reposing their faith in me by offering me this role. I look forward to this new challenge ahead of a new IPL cycle.
It’s my absolute honor to be joining Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners for trusting me with the job, ” he said, echoing Rao. “With the mega auction around the corner, my job in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff is pretty much cut out. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Delhi Capitals CEO Sunil Gupta has also welcomed the new coaching staff, saying that Hemang and Venu have been a part of the Capitals family and are well aware of our philosophy. “We look forward to working with them and achieving great things for Delhi Capitals,” he further added.
Venugopal Rao played for Deccan Chargers’ winning IPL team in 2009. He has also represented Delhi Daredevils for three seasons from the year 2011 to 2013 and has acted as a mentor for Dubai Capitals and later moved on to become Director of Cricket.
Four Tests and 40 ODIs for India is Badani’s experience with coaching also coming out of being the batting coach for Sunrisers Eastern Cape who won the inaugural edition of SA20. He is also the Head Coach of Dubai Capitals who reached the final of ILT20 this year.
