Munaf Patel named as new bowling coach of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025

Former Indian cricketer Munaf Patel has been appointed as the new bowling coach of Delhi Capitals (DC) for the 2025 IPL season. This announcement came on Tuesday as the franchise looks to build a fresh and dynamic coaching team for the upcoming season. Munaf will join head coach Hemang Badani and director of cricket Venugopal Rao in the revamped backroom staff.

This will be Munaf's first major coaching role since his retirement from competitive cricket in 2018. The 36-year-old, known for his reverse swing and ability to bowl deadly yorkers, had a successful playing career, including being part of the Indian team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup. In the IPL, Munaf played for teams like Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Lions, winning the 2013 IPL with Mumbai Indians.

Munaf replaces former Australia allrounder James Hopes, who parted ways with DC earlier this year. The team is undergoing a transformation after the exit of former head coach Ricky Ponting, aiming to strengthen their squad for the upcoming IPL cycle. DC has already made key player decisions, retaining players like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Tristan Stubbs as they look to improve after missing out on the playoffs in the past three seasons.

The team will enter the mega auction later this month with INR 73 crore, the third-highest purse, aiming to bolster their lineup for a stronger 2025 campaign.