Big announcement by Delhi Capitals before IPL 2026, special responsibility given to this former England legend

By Samira Vishwas On Feb 11, 2026

Amidst preparations for IPL 2026 Delhi Capitals Making a major change in the support staff, the former England batsman has been assigned an important role, which is expected to give new direction and strength to the team.

Before IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals has further strengthened its coaching staff and appointed former England star batsman Ian Bell as assistant coach. The franchise shared information about this decision through its official social media platforms.

Ian Bell has been counted among the most reliable batsmen of England of his era. He played 118 Tests, 161 ODIs and 8 T20 matches for England in his international career, while he retired from professional cricket in the year 2020. The special thing is that this will be the first time that Bell will be associated with IPL in any role.

After retirement, Bell has also made a special identity in the world of coaching. He has worked with the England Lions and Under-19 team and has played an important role in developing young players. Apart from this, he has also been the batting coach of the Sri Lankan Test team on the England tour in 2024.

Ian Bell has also had considerable experience in franchise cricket. He has worked as the assistant coach of Birmingham Phoenix in England’s The Hundred League. Along with this, he has also been a part of a small coaching assignment with the New Zealand team.

Delhi Capitals had a mixed IPL 2025 season. The team had a great start but later lost momentum and missed the playoffs by finishing fifth in the points table. Now with the entry of Ian Bell, the franchise is preparing to enter IPL 2026 with new enthusiasm and new thinking.