Munaf Patel appointed Delhi Capitals' bowling coach ahead of IPL 2025

Former Team India seamer Munaf Patel has joined the Delhi Capitals as their bowling coach ahead of the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Delhi-based franchise made the announcement on Tuesday, November 12, as they hope to win their first title in the history of the lucrative league.

Munaf, who represented the Men in Blue in 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and three Tests from 2006-2011, has plied his trade for the Gujarat Lions Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in IPL. In 63 matches, the 41-year-old finished with 74 scalps at 22.95 apiece along with a solitary fifer. However, the veteran didn't play an IPL fixture after 2017.

The Gujarat-born seamer's most notable achievement in the national jersey was playing an integral role in Team India's 2011 World Cup win on home soil. He finished with 11 scalps in eight matches at 32.09.

Delhi Capitals part ways with Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Rishabh Pant (Image Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, the Capitals have done away with Rishabh Pant ahead of the mega auction as the keeper-batter is likely to turn out for another franchise for the first time since his debut in 2014. Their retentions include Axar Patel (₹16.50 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (₹13.25 crore), Tristan Stubbs (₹10 crore), and Abhishek Porel (₹4 crore). With Ricky Ponting also stepping down as the head coach, ex-Team India cricketer Hemang Badani will succeed the Aussie in the role.

Ponting has now taken over as the Punjab Kings' head coach, while Pant is likely to be massively in demand during the auction. The Capitals finished sixth in the points table in IPL 2024, making it their third consecutive season without reaching the playoffs.

The mega auction will take place on November 24 and November 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as 1574 players have registered themselves for the same.