Capitals Reorganization: Sourav Ganguly Shifts Focus to WPL and SA20
The next question is whether Ganguly will participate in the IPL auction. The answer is yes, but his involvement may be limited. Under the agreement between the two groups, decisions regarding the auction and player retention will be made collaboratively. According to the joint statement, “Key decisions such as auctions, captaincy, player releases, and retentions for both teams will be made by the Delhi Capitals' board with mutual agreement from the senior leadership of both groups.”
On Thursday morning (October 17), GMR and JSW Groups, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise, released a joint statement concerning the team's management—a topic that has been previously reported by Cricbuzz. More media releases are anticipated later today to confirm further details about new appointments, leadership changes, and notably, updates regarding Sourav Ganguly.
First, what does this mean for Ganguly's role in the IPL? The former Indian cricket captain will maintain his connection with the franchise but will not work directly with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Instead, he will continue as the director of cricket, a position he has held for the last two seasons, focusing on the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 and the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
This transition stems from Ganguly's ties with the JSW Group, which will regain control of the team after a two-year period. During this time, he will step back while the GMR Group, owned by Kiran Kumar Grandhi, oversees the franchise for the next two seasons. Y Venugopal Rao and Hemang Badani, as reported by Cricbuzz on Wednesday, will take on managerial responsibilities.
The next question is whether Ganguly will participate in the IPL auction. The answer is yes, but his involvement may be limited. Under the agreement between the two groups, decisions regarding the auction and player retention will be made collaboratively. According to the joint statement, “Key decisions such as auctions, captaincy, player releases, and retentions for both teams will be made by the Delhi Capitals' board with mutual agreement from the senior leadership of both groups.”
Ganguly will attend the auction alongside Parth Jindal, the head of JSW. However, the extent of his influence and contribution in significant decisions remains unclear, with further details expected in upcoming announcements.
What about Rishabh Pant? As previously noted by Cricbuzz, the GMR Group is refraining from discussions with Pant while he is engaged in national duties for the ongoing Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. They are currently awaiting his response regarding his future with the team. Essentially, the decision lies with Pant—whether he wishes to stay with the franchise. Nonetheless, there is optimism that he will continue. The question of his captaincy will be addressed once his retention is confirmed.
Regarding the arrangement, the groups stated in their joint statement that “GMR Group and JSW Group announced that they would be sharing the management of cricketing operations for the Delhi Capitals IPL (Men) and Delhi Capitals WPL (Women) teams on a two-year rotational basis.” This strategic initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency across teams within the Delhi Capitals franchise.
The agreement specifies that the GMR Group will manage the cricketing operations of the Delhi Capitals men's team for the next two years, while JSW Sports will oversee operations for the women’s team. This structure will reverse in 2027 when JSW Sports will take over the men’s team. However, the overall business operations of the franchise will remain under the direction of the Delhi Capitals management team.
