Ian Bell Joins Delhi Capitals as Assistant Coach for IPL 2026. Former England batting star Ian Bell has been appointed assistant coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The Delhi Capitals announced the appointment through their official channels on February 10, 2026. Bell’s arrival adds international experience to Delhi’s coaching setup before the new IPL season.
Ian Bell’s 1st Coaching role in IPL
This will be Ian Bell’s first coaching role in the Indian Premier League. However, Bell already has strong coaching experience at international and domestic levels. Bell represented England in 118 Test matches and 161 One Day Internationals. He scored more than 7700 Test runs and achieved multiple match-winning performances for England. Bell progressed to coaching positions after he retired from professional cricket in 2020. He has worked with England Lions, England Under-19 teams, and county sides in England.
During the 2024 England tour, Bell worked as Sri Lanka’s batting coach. His calm approach and technical knowledge earned praise from young batters. At Delhi Capitals, Bell will focus mainly on batting development and game awareness. He will work with head coach Hemang Badani and bowling coach Munaf Patel. Delhi Capitals are rebuilding their support staff ahead of IPL 2026.
The franchise wants a strong balance of experience and modern cricket thinking.
Delhi finished fifth in IPL 2025, narrowly missing playoff qualification. The team showed potential, but they struggled to maintain their performance during crucial matches. The management expects Bell’s presence to improve both batting stability and player temperament. His Test match experience will assist emerging Indian batsmen.
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Bell’s ability to handle stressful scenarios will help Delhi manage their tight games during IPL matches. The Capitals plan to execute a more powerful and controlled campaign during their upcoming IPL 2026 season. With Bell joining the staff, the Delhi Capitals have strengthened their backroom team. The upcoming season will determine how well the team performs according to current expectations.