In a massive overhaul of their technical bench ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season, Delhi Capitals have officially roped in legendary Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas as their new bowling coach. The tactical appointment marks the continuation of an aggressive restructuring campaign by the Delhi Capitals management, which recently replaced its entire previous backroom setup to assemble an elite leadership group. Vaas now joins two of Indian cricket’s most revered figures—newly installed Head Coach Sourav Ganguly and Batting Coach Yuvraj Singh—forming a high-profile coaching triumvirate aimed at clinching the franchise’s elusive maiden IPL crown.
Back in the IPL Dugout After 16 Years: The Deccan Chargers Connection
The assignment signals an emotional and professional return to the world’s most lucrative T20 tournament for the Sri Lankan icon:
Sixteen-Year IPL Hiatus Ends: Chaminda Vaas makes his long-awaited return to the IPL fold after a 16-year absence, having last featured as an active player during the initial seasons of the tournament.
Memories of the 2009 Championship Run: Vaas represented the Deccan Chargers franchise across three competitive editions between 2008 and 2010, scalping 18 wickets in 13 appearances and playing a pivotal role in the franchise’s historic title-winning campaign in South Africa in 2009.
Second-Highest Wicket-Taker for Sri Lanka: Bringing unparalleled seam pedigree to the Delhi Capitals dugout, the left-arm swing wizard retired with a staggering 761 international wickets across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, standing second only to Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lankan cricket history.
Deep Coaching Repertoire: From International Arenas to Global T20 Leagues
Vaas arrives in the Delhi Capitals dressing room backed by an extensive, battle-tested coaching resume across multiple international boards:
Sri Lankan National Team Tenures: Vaas has served multiple successful stints as the national bowling coach and fast-bowling consultant for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), mentoring generations of island pacers.
Consultancy Stints with Ireland and New Zealand: Expanding his tactical footprint, the veteran has acted as a specialist fast-bowling consultant for both Cricket Ireland and New Zealand Cricket, providing seam variations suited for subcontinental and bouncy conditions.
Franchise Cricket Acumen: Beyond international governance, Vaas has coached extensively across global franchise T20 tournaments, equipping him to mentor Delhi’s pace battery in handling high-pressure death overs, yorker execution, and reverse swing.
Amit Mishra Set to Complete the Setup: Bengaluru Trials Hint at Complete Overhaul
The reconstruction of Delhi Capitals’ support staff is set to add another seasoned Indian veteran to handle the spin division:
Amit Mishra in Line as Spin Mentor: Veteran leg-spinner and IPL stalwart Amit Mishra is reported to be the leading candidate to assume the role of spin bowling coach for IPL 2027, working in tandem with Vaas.
Active Participation in Player Scrutiny: Mishra’s impending induction follows his hands-on presence during the franchise’s specialized player trials held in Bengaluru this past August, where he supervised talent searches alongside Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh.
Synchronized Preparations Underway: In September, Delhi Capitals organized a secondary high-performance trial camp attended by Vaas, Mishra, and Yuvraj, confirming that the new backroom staff is already actively building the squad blueprint for the IPL 2027 mega-auction.