In a significant shakeup ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the Delhi Capitals have announced a complete overhaul of their backroom staff, marking the end of Sourav Ganguly’s involvement with the men’s team. Former India cricketer Venugopal Rao will step in as Director of Cricket, while Ganguly transitions to focus on the Women’s Premier League and the Pretoria Capitals in SA20. Amid speculation about Rishabh Pant’s captaincy future, the franchise has retained key players and is preparing for an upcoming mega auction, with trials scheduled to identify new talent. As the Capitals aim to reset their strategy, the clarity on captaincy and team dynamics is expected to unfold in the coming days.
Sourav Ganguly’s Departure from Delhi Capitals
Sourav Ganguly will no longer be involved in the operational aspects of the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Instead, he will take on a new role as the “Women’s Director of Cricket,” focusing on overseeing the Women’s Premier League team and the Pretoria Capitals in SA20. This marks a significant shift in Ganguly’s career, as he has been a prominent figure in Indian cricket for many years, holding various high-profile positions, including President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals.
The decision comes amidst a broader overhaul of the franchise’s backroom staff, as the Capitals prepare for the upcoming mega auction. Ganguly had expressed interest in doubling up as the head coach and Director of Cricket for the men’s team, but those plans did not materialize. This will be the first time in a long while that he will not be associated with men’s cricket in any capacity, signaling a new chapter in both his career and the franchise’s direction.
IPL Mega Auction Likely to Take Place on November 30, Could be Held in Riyadh
Rishabh Pant’s Future as Captain
With the restructuring of the coaching staff and management at Delhi Capitals, the future of Rishabh Pant’s captaincy has come under scrutiny. According to sources, the decision now rests with Pant, who must decide whether he wants to continue as captain or focus solely on his role as a player. This uncertainty comes at a crucial time as the franchise gears up for the mega auction, which is set to take place in the last week of November.
The Capitals have already finalized their retention, keeping Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. They are also likely to exercise their Right-to-Match (RTM) option to retain other players. There is potential for uncapped retention in the promising young talent, Abhishek Porel, who had a standout season last year, but a final decision on this has yet to be made. As the team prepares for trials next week, the captaincy picture is expected to become clearer soon.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
