New Delhi: In a significant development for the upcoming season, former Sri Lankan pace legend Chaminda Vaas is set to take over as the bowling coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals. The inclusion of the veteran fast bowler, who boasts over 700 international wickets, is expected to bolster the team’s bowling department significantly. The franchise is currently undergoing a complete restructuring of its coaching setup to reverse recent fortunes.
Extensive Talks With Other Legends
Before finalizing the deal with Chaminda Vaas, the franchise management engaged in discussions with several other prominent Indian bowling greats. According to media reports, the team had approached veteran pacers Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble for the role. Sources close to the franchise revealed that negotiations with Zaheer Khan had progressed considerably, while discussions were also held with Kumble. However, due to a lack of consensus on the final terms and conditions, those appointments did not materialize, paving the way for Vaas.
Major Overhaul of the Coaching Staff
The Delhi Capitals franchise is presently in the middle of revamping its entire coaching staff ahead of the upcoming tournament. As part of this comprehensive reshuffle, the team has already appointed Yuvraj Singh as the batting coach. Meanwhile, the search for a new head coach following Hemang Badani's departure remains ongoing. Additionally, a new appointment is expected to be made for the position of director, currently held by Venugopal Rao, as the management prepares a fresh blueprint.
Stepping Into Munaf Patel's Shoes
Chaminda Vaas will step into the role previously held by Munaf Patel, who departed from the bowling coach position following two roller-coaster seasons for the franchise. Vaas is widely regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers to have graced the game and has successfully transitioned into coaching following his retirement. Over his illustrious career, he represented Sri Lanka in 111 Test matches, 322 One-Day Internationals, and 6 T20 Internationals. His phenomenal bowling record includes 355 wickets in Tests, 400 wickets in ODIs, and 6 wickets in T20 internationals, taking his grand total to an astounding 761 international wickets across all formats.
