Ganguly Backs Pant For Key Role In Delhi Capitals Middle Order
Newly appointed Delhi Capitals head coach Sourav Ganguly believes Rishabh Pant can rediscover his best form after returning to the franchise, with the wicketkeeper-batter expected to play a key role in the team’s middle order in the next IPL season.
Pant played 111 matches for Delhi Capitals, scoring 3,284 runs and captaining the side before moving to Lucknow Super Giants in 2025. Following an underwhelming stint with LSG, he has returned to Delhi in a trade involving Kuldeep Yadav.
“We needed a middle-order batter and Pant fits it perfectly. He was with us and he played well for us. Next year, when he turns up again, I think he’ll use the time and space and the matches to become a better player,” Ganguly said in a video posted by DC on their official YouTube channel.
The former India captain added that Pant enjoys batting at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, now known as the Arun Jaitley Stadium, and hoped to see him produce his best cricket in the coming seasons.
Pant has struggled for consistency and dealt with recurring injuries since recovering from the life-threatening car accident he suffered in 2022.
Ganguly Returns To Delhi Capitals
Ganguly’s appointment also marks a homecoming of sorts for the former India captain.
His association with Delhi Capitals began in 2019 when he joined the franchise as an advisor. He later held several leadership positions, including director of cricket for both the men’s and women’s teams.
“I am very, very excited. I have been there with them for two seasons, one season as director of cricket. My first season was 2019, we lost in the semis and then I went away as BCCI president. So I am really excited for the season ahead,” Ganguly said.
“Delhi is a very good side and I will be giving my best to make the side successful,” he added.
Ganguly’s first coaching assignment came with Pretoria Capitals, Delhi Capitals’ South African franchise.
Ganguly Outlines Coaching Approach
Ganguly acknowledged that coaching requires a different mindset from playing and said his priority will be understanding players and finding ways to get the best out of them.
“It’s not the same as a player. It’s a bit different, you need to understand things, you need to be relaxed. You still need to find a way to get the best out of players and work with the players because players are different,” he said.
“It’s not you batting or you bowling anymore. It’s about somebody else batting or bowling or winning cricket matches. So it’s important that you sync with them and understand what they want and how they can get better.”
Ganguly Targets Playoff Return
Delhi finished sixth last season, and Ganguly has set his sights on taking the team back into the playoffs.
DC have reached the IPL final only once, in 2020, when they lost to Mumbai Indians.
Ganguly believes the current squad has enough quality, with KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Pant, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs among the key names.
“It’s a good team with KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, it’s a pretty strong team and I hope we play to our potential,” he said.
Ganguly added that his long-term motivation remains taking Delhi to the top after being involved in building the team in 2019 and 2020.
“I think that’s what I will be looking out for from the players because there’s enormous talent in the dressing room,” he said.
Acknowledging Delhi’s limited success in recent years, Ganguly said he wants the franchise to finally have the opportunity to celebrate sustained success.
“I think it’s time that the Delhi boys give them (the owners) that opportunity to rejoice with the squad where they have put in so much time and energy for the years to come,” he said.
