Delhi Capitals have bolstered their support staff ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 by appointing former England cricketer Ian Bell as their new assistant coach. The franchise confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, marking Bell’s first involvement in the IPL in any capacity.

Bell, one of England’s most accomplished batters of his generation, brings a wealth of experience despite never previously being part of an IPL setup. During his illustrious career, he represented England in 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and eight T20 internationals before retiring from professional cricket in 2020. His transition into coaching has been equally impressive, steadily building his credentials across multiple levels of the game.

Since retiring, the right-handed batter has worked extensively with England’s Lions and Under-19 squads, contributing significantly to player development and talent identification. He also served as batting coach for Sri Lanka’s Test team during their 2024 tour of England, gaining further exposure at the international level.

Additionally, Bell has had coaching stints with other international teams, including a short assignment with New Zealand’s men’s side during their tour of England ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup. In franchise cricket, he gained experience in The Hundred, assisting Birmingham Phoenix in the men’s competition.

At Delhi Capitals, Bell will join a coaching group led by Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, working alongside head coach Hemang Badani and bowling coach Munaf Patel. His appointment comes after a reshuffle in the backroom staff, with Australian coach Matthew Mott having served as assistant coach during the 2025 season.

The Capitals had a mixed IPL 2025 campaign, starting strongly but losing momentum and finishing fifth on the points table, narrowly missing a playoff spot. Bell’s arrival signals the franchise’s intent to bring fresh perspective and additional expertise to help the team bounce back and strengthen their challenge in the IPL 2026 season.