Vijay Dahiya returns as Delhi senior men's cricket coach for 2026/27
Synopsis
The DDCA has overhauled its entire coaching and selection structure for 2026/27, bringing back the Ranji Trophy-winning Vijay Dahiya as Delhi's senior men's head coach and installing Virat Kohli's childhood mentor Raj Kumar Sharma as State Mentor — all with the Ranji Trophy opener against Bengal just over a fortnight away.
Key Takeaways
Vijay Dahiya re-appointed head coach of the Delhi senior men's cricket team for the 2026/27 season by the DDCA .
KP Bhaskar named chief selector of the senior men's panel; Reema Malhotra to head the senior women's selection committee.
Raj Kumar Sharma , Dronacharya Awardee and childhood coach of Virat Kohli , appointed State Mentor for the men's programme.
Dahiya previously led Delhi to the 2007/08 Ranji Trophy title; he replaces Sarandeep Singh , who moves to the CAC.
Delhi begin their Ranji Trophy campaign on 11 October against Bengal in Kalyani .
A new High Performance Group has been formed, with Gursharan Singh and Bantoo Singh as chief batting coaches for men's and women's programmes respectively.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya has been re-appointed as head coach of the Delhi senior men's cricket team for the 2026/27 domestic season, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) announced on Friday, 25 September 2026. The appointments, covering both men's and women's setups across all age groups, were finalised after the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) submitted its full set of recommendations.
Key Appointments at the Senior Level
KP Bhaskar, a former Delhi stalwart, has been named chief selector of the senior men's selection panel, heading a three-member committee that includes Manu Nayar and Praveen Gupta. On the women's side, former India player Reema Malhotra will chair the senior women's selection panel, joined by Swarn Chadha and Rani Ojha.
Notably, Raj Kumar Sharma — the childhood coach of India batting stalwart Virat Kohli and a Dronacharya Awardee — has been designated State Mentor for the men's programme. Sunita Sharma has been appointed to the same role for the women's teams.
Dahiya's Record and Predecessor
Dahiya, who represented India in two Tests and ten ODIs, previously guided Delhi to the 2007/08 Ranji Trophy title and held the head coach role in the 2012/13, 2014/15, and 2015/16 seasons. He also served as assistant coach with IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans. He takes over from former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh, who spent the last two seasons at the helm and has now moved into the CAC.
Dahiya's support staff includes assistant coaches Kshitiz Sharma and Kuldeep Rawat, with Sanjeev Sharma and former India pacer Parvinder Awana as bowling coaches. Delhi open their Ranji Trophy campaign on 11 October against Bengal in Kalyani.
Age-Group and Women's Coaching Structure
Former Delhi batter Robin Bisht takes charge as chief coach of the Men's Under-23 side, assisted by Mohan Chaturvedi and Rajinder Singh Chawla. Rajiv Nayyar will lead the Men's U-19 coaching staff, while Raju Sharma and Abhishek Mankotia have been named chief coaches for the Men's U-16 and U-14 setups respectively.
On the women's side, former India international Latika Kumari has been appointed chief coach of the Women's U-23 team. Deepti Dhyani continues as chief coach of the senior women's team, while Sonnet Club coach Devendra Sharma retains his position as Women's U-19 selector.
High Performance Group
The DDCA also announced a dedicated High Performance Group. Former India batter Gursharan Singh has been appointed chief batting coach for the men's programme, with Bantoo Singh taking the equivalent role for the women's programme. Tilak Raj Sharma and V. Arvind will oversee the bowling department within the High Performance division.
With the Ranji Trophy just weeks away, Delhi's revamped coaching and selection structure signals a renewed bid for domestic silverware under experienced hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Vijay Dahiya been re-appointed as Delhi's head coach?
The DDCA re-appointed Vijay Dahiya based on recommendations by the Cricket Advisory Committee, given his strong track record with Delhi — including the 2007/08 Ranji Trophy title and multiple subsequent stints. He replaces Sarandeep Singh, who has moved to the CAC after two seasons in charge.
Who is KP Bhaskar and what is his role?
KP Bhaskar is a former Delhi cricket stalwart who has been named chief selector of the senior men's selection panel for the 2026/27 season. He will chair a three-member committee alongside Manu Nayar and Praveen Gupta.
What is Raj Kumar Sharma's connection to Delhi cricket?
Raj Kumar Sharma is a Dronacharya Awardee best known as the childhood coach of India batting stalwart Virat Kohli. He has been appointed State Mentor for the Delhi men's programme for the 2026/27 season.
When does Delhi start their Ranji Trophy 2026/27 campaign?
Delhi open their Ranji Trophy 2026/27 campaign on 11 October against Bengal in Kalyani, giving the new coaching set-up very little time to settle in.
Who are the coaches for Delhi's women's and age-group teams?
Deepti Dhyani continues as chief coach of the senior women's team, while former India international Latika Kumari heads the Women's U-23 side. For the men's age-group setups, Robin Bisht coaches U-23, Rajiv Nayyar leads U-19, Raju Sharma handles U-16, and Abhishek Mankotia takes charge of U-14.
