Sourav Ganguly is stepping in as the new head coach for the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals for the 2027 season, and he’s already shutting down any talk about a conflict of interest with his ongoing role as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Ganguly is pointing straight to an order from the BCCI ombudsman, making it clear he’s got the green light.
Dada Takes the Reins in Delhi, Addresses the Doubts
This isn’t just another gig for Ganguly, who’s a legend in the game. This is his very first stint as an IPL head coach, taking over from Hemang Badani. He’s been around the Capitals setup since 2019, holding down various positions like Director of Cricket for both the men’s and women’s teams, even serving as an advisor in 2019 and then Director of Cricket again in 2023-24. So he knows the team, inside and out.
When reporters pressed him on the potential conflict of interest, his response was short and to the point: “I’ve got the order of ombudsman.” That’s his mic drop moment, isn’t it? He sounds ready to roll, too, telling reporters, “Delhi will play well. I’m looking forward to it.” You gotta love that confidence.
From Cricket Captain to Coach, Plus a Shout-Out to Football
Ganguly, at 54, isn’t new to the coaching scene, though. He made his coaching debut last year with the Pretoria Capitals in the South African SA20 league. And let’s not forget his playing career: 113 Tests and 311 one-day internationals for India. The man has seen it all.
Interestingly, he was speaking to reporters after watching India’s football team take a tough 1-6 loss against Uruguay in an international friendly. Even with that scoreline, he backed India’s decision to play top-tier international teams. He believes that kind of exposure is key for improvement. “It’s a good initiative and they will learn in this way,” he said. “It doesn’t happen overnight. You only improve playing against good teams.” That’s a solid point. India had also recently drawn 1-1 against Panama and lost 0-4 to five-time world champions Brazil, so they’re definitely getting that high-level exposure.
So, for Ganguly, it’s full steam ahead with the Delhi Capitals for 2027. All eyes will be on how he shapes the team and whether that ombudsman’s order truly puts an end to any lingering questions. The new IPL season feels far away, but you know the build-up starts now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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