Munaf Patel Joins Delhi Capitals as Bowling Coach

Former Indian pacer and ODI World Cup champion Munaf Patel has been appointed as the bowling coach for the Delhi Capitals (DC). The announcement, made on Tuesday, places Munaf alongside head coach Hemang Badani and director of cricket Venugopal Rao in the franchise's revamped coaching setup for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.

This marks Munaf's first major coaching role since retiring from professional cricket in 2018. Though he has participated in tournaments featuring retired players, Munaf is best remembered for his ability to produce reverse swing and execute precise yorkers during his playing days. Between 2006 and 2011, he represented India in 86 matches across all formats. In the IPL, he played for Rajasthan Royals (2008-2010), Mumbai Indians (2011-2013), and Gujarat Lions (2017), lifting the trophy with Mumbai in 2013.

Delhi Capitals announced Munaf's arrival with a warm message celebrating his "old-school grit" and "winning mindset," replacing former Australian allrounder James Hopes. The team had parted ways with Hopes and ex-head coach Ricky Ponting in July 2024 as part of a strategic overhaul. This shift focuses on building a predominantly Indian coaching team to align with the franchise's long-term goals.

As DC prepares for the next three-year IPL cycle and the upcoming mega auction later this month, they have retained key players such as Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and uncapped talent Abishek Porel. Entering the auction on November 24 and 25, the team holds the third-largest purse of INR 73 crore, aiming to rebuild after missing the playoffs for the last three seasons.

With a fresh coaching lineup and strategic plans in place, Delhi Capitals are eager to turn their fortunes around and make a strong statement in IPL 2025.