Mohammad Kaif Backs Sourav Ganguly for Delhi Capitals Head Coach Role

Former Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammad Kaif has expressed confidence that Sourav Ganguly would excel as the head coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise if appointed after Ricky Ponting’s departure. Ganguly, currently serving as the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, is a strong contender for the role. The team finished sixth in the league stage last season, failing to make the playoffs.

Kaif, who spent three years as an assistant coach with Delhi Capitals, criticized the team for frequently rotating players, which he believes contributed to their inconsistent performances. “Delhi Capitals rotate their players so much. New players come and go. They had Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Rilee Rossouw, and Ripal Patel, whom they said they were grooming. But they don’t follow their template of building a team of youngsters and instead bring in senior players. They don’t back their players and keep on changing them,” Kaif told IANS.

Kaif believes Ganguly’s experience and the upcoming mega auction would help him build a strong team. “I feel Sourav Ganguly will do a good job if he takes over as Delhi Capitals head coach. He has experience, and with a mega auction coming up, he will build a good team. Delhi had quality players, but their problem was an inconsistent playing 11. They lacked in backing their players,” he added.

Addressing why Delhi Capitals shuffle their players so often, Kaif noted that there might be pressure from the management after a few losses. “Captains like Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting should not have issues from the management. They are legends and should know how to run the team. The challenge comes when you lose 2-3 matches, and then the management gets involved, asking ‘Why are you losing?’ When management questions start, the puzzle goes wrong, and pressure builds.”

Kaif also mentioned that tactical mistakes in the last few matches led to Delhi Capitals missing out on playoff qualification.

Regarding his future in coaching, Kaif expressed his desire to stay involved in the IPL. “I would love to be on the ground and connect with like-minded people,” he said, without specifying any particular team.