In a strategic move ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Delhi Capitals have bolstered their coaching staff by appointing former England batsman Ian Bell as assistant coach. The franchise made the announcement on Tuesday via their official X account, sharing a photo of Bell with the caption: ‘England’s great batsman is now a Delhiite. Welcome home, Ian Bell.’
Bell brings a wealth of experience to the Delhi Capitals setup. A stalwart of English cricket, he has coached England’s Lions and Under-19 teams, contributing significantly to player development at the national level. Most recently, he served as batting coach for Sri Lanka’s Test team during their 2024 tour of England, gaining valuable international exposure.
His coaching portfolio also includes a stint with New Zealand Cricket and as assistant coach for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred competition. Bell will join a robust coaching group led by cricket director Venugopal Rao, featuring head coach Hemang Badani and bowling coach Munaf Patel.
Retiring from international cricket in 2020, Bell’s illustrious career saw him play 118 Tests, scoring 7,727 runs with 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries, his highest being 235 not out. In ODIs, he amassed 5,416 runs in 161 matches, including 4 tons and 35 fifties, with a best of 141. His T20I record stands at 188 runs in 8 games, highlighted by an unbeaten 60.
This appointment signals Delhi Capitals’ intent to build a formidable unit for upcoming seasons, leveraging Bell’s technical expertise in batting to nurture young talent and elevate team performance in the high-stakes IPL arena.