John Mooney Appointed Delhi Capitals Fielding Coach for IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals (DC) have announced the appointment of former Ireland all-rounder John Mooney as their fielding coach ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. This marks a significant milestone as Mooney becomes the first Irish national to hold a coaching position within an IPL franchise ESPNcricinfo.

Mooney’s Coaching Experience

Mooney takes over the fielding coach role from Anton Roux, who previously shared the responsibility with Gnaneswara Rao. Rao will continue in his capacity as a fielding coach, joining Mooney within the Delhi Capitals support staff. The team’s coaching structure is led by head coach Hemang Badani, with Munaf Patel serving as bowling coach, Ian Bell as assistant coach, and Venugopal Rao as director of cricket NDTV Sports.

Prior to joining Delhi Capitals, Mooney gained valuable coaching experience with several international teams. He served as the fielding coach for Afghanistan from 2018 to 2019, including during their historic first Test match against India. He also worked with the West Indies men’s team in 2019 and held a temporary coaching role with the Ireland women’s team in 2025.

Playing Career

As a player, John Mooney represented Ireland in 64 One Day International (ODI) matches and 27 Twenty20 International (T20I) games between 2006 and 2015. He participated in three ODI World Cups (2007, 2011, and 2015) and two T20 World Cups (2009 and 2010).

Coaching Qualifications

Following his retirement from international cricket in 2015, Mooney pursued coaching certifications, completing Level 1, 2, and 3 courses from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Delhi Capitals’ IPL Performance

Delhi Capitals have yet to win an IPL title but have consistently been competitive, reaching the playoffs three times since the 2019 season.

John Mooney named Delhi Capitals’ fielding coach for IPL 2026. www.espncricinfo