Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was named the Delhi Capitals mentor for the IPL 2025 season on Thursday. The 44-year-old Pietersen will be seen in a coaching assignment for the first time in the IPL since last featuring as a player in the league in 2016. “It’s an exciting opportunity to step into this new role as a mentor for the Capitals,” Pietersen said in a DC press release. “And I’m really looking forward to joining the squad, working closely with the boys, and doing everything I can to help us win that ultimate prize.”
Pietersen played for three IPL teams across five seasons from 2009, including Delhi (then Daredevils). He also led in 17 matches in the IPL. After leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru briefly in IPL 2009, Pietersen captained Daredevils in 2014 when they finished at the bottom of the league table with only two wins.
I’m so excited to come home to Delhi! I have the fondest memories of my time with Delhi.
I love the city, I love the fans and I’ll do everything I can to support the franchise in our quest for the title in 2025! https://t.co/ln2ldwKHAz— Kevin Pietersen
(@KP24) February 27, 2025
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“I’ve got incredible memories of representing the Delhi franchise in the IPL, and I’ve been able to maintain that passion for the team even as a broadcaster over the years. I shared the field with Venu (Venugopal Rao) during the 2012 season, and it’s great to be reconnecting with him as we begin a new chapter at this amazing franchise.”
In a T20 career spanning 200 matches, Pietersen scored 5695 runs at an average of 33.89 and strike rate just below 137. Pietersen will join Hemang Badani (head coach), Matthew Mott (assistant coach), Munaf Patel (bowling coach) and Venugopal Rao (director of cricket) in the Delhi support staff.
DC finished sixth in IPL 2024 and have only reached the final once in 2020 where they lost to the Mumbai Indians. Heading into the IPL 2025 auction with the biggest purse after retaining only Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abishek Porel, Delhi snapped up big signings in KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Starc.
The team has yet to announce a captain ahead of the IPL season, due to begin on March 22. Delhi play their first league game against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 in Vizag.
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