Sourav Ganguly takes charge of Delhi Capitals in his first head coaching role

Delhi Capitals have appointed Sourav Ganguly as head coach for IPL 2027, the first coaching job of a career that has already taken in the captaincy of India and the presidency of the BCCI

The franchise confirmed the appointment on Tuesday. Ganguly replaces Hemang Badani, who was in charge for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and leaves the role.

Ganguly, 54, has been attached to the Delhi set-up since its first season under the Capitals name in 2019, first as an advisor and more recently as director of cricket. He has never before held a coaching position at a franchise.

The move arrives alongside a change in who runs the team day to day. Under the alternating arrangement agreed by the franchise's 50:50 owners, JSW Sports takes over management of the men's IPL side in 2027 after two seasons under GMR Sports.

A familiar building, a new job

Ganguly joined Delhi Capitals as an advisor in 2019, working alongside the then head coach Ricky Ponting in a season that ended with a third-place league finish and a run to the playoffs.

He stepped away to serve as BCCI president from October 2019 to October 2022, then returned to the franchise in January 2023 as director of cricket, a post covering both the men's and women's squads.

"I am looking forward to take on the role of Head Coach in the IPL. Delhi Capitals is a franchise very close to my heart, and one that I have shared a strong relationship with over the years," Ganguly said.

"I have worked closely with the owners, management, support staff and players, which makes this an exciting responsibility for me."

Five seasons without a playoff

The job Ganguly inherits is a rebuilding one. Delhi have not reached the playoffs since 2021, when they topped the league stage, and have finished fifth, ninth, sixth, fifth and sixth in the five seasons since.

The franchise has never won the IPL. Its only final came in 2020, when it lost to Mumbai Indians.

"We have a talented group and have played a good brand of cricket in the recent past," Ganguly said. "I am looking forward to working with the squad, the new season, and building a strong and fearless team."

Badani makes way after two seasons

Badani was appointed in 2024 and took charge for the two campaigns that followed, Delhi finishing fifth in 2025 and sixth in 2026, the most recent season bringing seven wins from 14 league matches.

He leaves the job without having taken the side into a playoff.

Both owners put their names to it

"Dada is and has always been an integral part of the Delhi Capitals family. I am incredibly proud and honoured to announce that one of the greatest Indian captains and administrators is now stepping into coaching by taking over as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals," said Parth Jindal, the franchise's chairman and co-owner.

"I am excited to see him take on this role and I'm sure that under his guidance and visionary leadership Delhi Capitals will be best prepared to challenge for the IPL title," Jindal added.

Kiran Kumar Grandhi of GMR said Ganguly "has been an integral part of the Delhi Capitals journey over the years and has played an important role in strengthening our cricketing structure".

"His deep understanding of the franchise, coupled with his experience and leadership, will be invaluable as we move forward," Grandhi said.

An auction to plan for

The appointment comes ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, the first squad-building exercise Ganguly will oversee as a coach rather than as an administrator.

It is his first coaching role at any level of the IPL, after advisory and administrative posts stretching back to 2019.

Ganguly's first task will be assembling a squad at that auction for a franchise which has not played a playoff match in five years.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.