Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as Delhi Capitals mentor ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, ending a short stint with the franchise ahead of the start of the new season. The 45-year-old joined the Capitals ahead of the 2025 season, returning to the franchise he once represented as a player.
His departure comes just weeks before the 19th edition of the IPL, which is scheduled for March 28. Pietersen said he could not commit the time the role required but confirmed fans would still see him in the commentary box during the tournament.
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“I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals this IPL season. I cannot devote the time that the role requires,” Pietersen wrote on X.
“I wish all the players the best for this season! You’ll see me back in the comments box though! IPL is the best league in the world and I can’t wait to see you all soon!” Pietersen added.
DELHI WATCH THE REFLECTION
The Capitals endured a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign, finishing fifth in the league stage and narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Led by captain Axar Patel, Delhi finished with 15 points after seven wins, six losses and one win.
KL Rahul was their outstanding batsman with 539 runs while Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling attack with 15 wickets. Despite promising patches, Delhi struggled for consistency at crucial moments.
In the IPL 2026 auction, the Capitals largely encouraged continuity by retaining their core group, including Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc.
They also made some notable additions, signing David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to bolster their batting depth, finishing power and pace.
Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday, April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
14 Mar 2026 18:07 IST
