As reported by Cricinfo in June, DC, who have never won the IPL title and finished sixth in 2026, were expected to change the coaching staff that was in place for the last two seasons: Venugopal Rao (team director), Hemang Badani (head coach), Munaf Patel (bowling coach), and Ian Bell (assistant coach).

This is in line with the arrangement reached between DC’s co-owners – GMR Sports India Pvt Ltd and Jindal South West (JSW) Sports – after IPL 2024, which is that each owner will control franchise operations in alternating two-year cycles.

Ganguly has a long-standing association with DC.

He was appointed JSW’s director of cricket in 2024, and had been DC’s mentor for a season in IPL 2019 before he became the BCCI president. In the SA20 2025, Ganguly served as the head coach at Pretoria Capitals, his maiden foray as a coach, and has also been involved with the DC team in the Women’s Premier League.