2011 World Cup-winner Munaf Patel is also in the race to be a part of the coaching staff.
Source: NDTV
Delhi Capitals, like most of the other franchises, is likely to opt for three retentions — skipper Rishabh Pant (18 crore), all-rounder Axar Patel (Rs 14 crore) and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 11 crore), as per a report by PTI. Former India left-hander Hemang Badani is emerging as a front-runner in the race to become the chief coach of Delhi Capitals, while pacer Munaf Patel’s name is doing the rounds for a role in the support staff of the franchise. DC had parted ways with Australian Ricky Ponting as head coach a few weeks ago owing to his availability issues. Ponting had been with the team since 2018.
According to a PTI source, Delhi Capitals (DC) management is considering quality home-grown coaches, with Hemang Badani and Munaf Patel emerging as potential candidates. While no final decision has been made, Munaf is reportedly in line for the role of bowling coach. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that DC is keen on strengthening its coaching staff.
With five player retentions costing Rs 75 crore, DC may use the Right To Match (RTM) cards to retain key foreign players like Jake-Fraser McGurk and South African Tristan Stubbs, provided their price tags fit within the team’s budget.
The potential appointment of Hemang Badani as head coach comes as DC prepares for a shift in management. Over the next two years, GMR, one of the co-owners alongside JSW, will take the lead in managing the team. The two co-owners are said to alternate micro-managing responsibilities every two years.
Badani, who has previously worked with Brian Lara at Sunrisers Hyderabad, could receive a major career boost if he lands the job. The former Tamil Nadu cricketer played four Tests and 40 ODIs for India between 2001 and 2004, with his ODI century against Australia in the 2001 series being a career highlight.
As head coach, Badani would face the challenge of guiding DC to its first-ever IPL title, a milestone that has eluded the team since the league’s inception in 2008. Delhi Capitals reached the IPL final only once, in 2020, where they were defeated by Mumbai Indians.
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