While Badani replaces Ricky Ponting, who amicably parted ways recently after seven-seasons as head coach, Rao takes over the role performed in the past few years by former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Both appointments are part of the decision taken by the DC ownership to overhaul the coaching staff and the overall running structure of the franchise which has never won the IPL. The franchise has also decided not to renew the contract with Praveen Amre, who served as assistant coach and talent scout since 2014.

As part of the restructuring, the co-owners of DC - GMR Group and JSW Sports - will swap the operational leadership roles every two years for their teams in the IPL and the WPL. Consequently, Ganguly will take over as director of cricket for the franchise in the WPL for the next two seasons (2025 and 2026). Ganguly will switch to the IPL from the 2027 season when JSW Sports will be back in charge. In a media statement on Thursday, the franchise said "key decisions like auctions, captaincy, player release and retentions of both teams will be made by the Delhi Capitals' board, and will be decided mutually by senior leadership of both groups."

Why Hemang Badani?
While the appointment of Badani, who played four Tests and 40 ODIs, is expected arouse curiosity, the former Tamil Nadu captain has been a successful coach in the domestic T20 circuit. After being part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squads in the initial few years, Badani was the head coach at Chepauk Super Gillies, who have won three TNPL titles. With them, Badani played a key role in the development of young players like R Sai Kishore, the present Tamil Nadu captain.

That experience played a role in Badani joining Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as fielding coach cum scout in IPL 2022. Badani has also had coaching experience in overseas T20 leagues: he was assistant coach with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in 2023, when they won the inaugural SA20 title; he was also a coaching consultant for Jaffna Kings when the franchise won the Lanka Premier League in the latest edition.

Badani has also been part of teams under the Capitals umbrella in overseas franchise leagues. Badani, who will turn 48 soon, was the head coach at Dubai Capitals (owned by GMR Group) who finished runners-up this January in the ILT20. Recently, Badani was also a coaching consultant for Seattle Orcas in the MLC (Major League Cricket), another franchise where GMR Group has a stake.