Delhi Capitals have bolstered their support staff for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season by appointing former England international Ian Bell as their new assistant coach.
The franchise made the announcement via their official social media channels on Tuesday.
The England great is now a Dilliwala 💙❤️
Welcome home, Ian Bell 🏡😌 pic.twitter.com/UqYE53rbrx
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 10, 2026
Who Is New DC Assistant Coach?
Bell, one of the most accomplished batters of his generation in England, brings extensive experience to the role despite never having been part of an IPL setup before. During his illustrious playing career, he represented England in 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and eight T20 internationals before retiring from professional cricket in 2020. This
appointment marks his first involvement in the IPL in any capacity.
Since retiring from playing, Bell has built an impressive coaching resume. He has worked closely with England’s Lions and Under-19 teams, contributing to player development at various levels of the national pathway. Most recently, he served as the batting coach for Sri Lanka’s Test team during their 2024 tour of England, gaining further international coaching experience.
Bell has also had coaching stints with other international teams, including a short assignment with the New Zealand men’s side during their tour of England ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup. In franchise cricket, he has served as the assistant coach for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
Bell Joins…
At Delhi Capitals, Bell will join a coaching group led by Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, alongside head coach Hemang Badani and bowling coach Munaf Patel. His appointment follows changes in the backroom staff, with Australian coach Matthew Mott serving as assistant coach during the 2025 season.
The Capitals had a mixed IPL 2025 campaign, starting strongly but losing momentum to finish fifth on the points table, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Bell’s arrival indicates the franchise’s intent to bring in fresh perspectives and experience as they prepare for the 2026 season.
(With inputs from Agencies)
