Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has clarified that his appointment as the head coach of Delhi Capitals (DC) does not involve any conflict of interest with his role as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), citing an order from the BCCI ombudsman.

This appointment marks the first time Ganguly will serve as a head coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He replaced Hemang Badani in the role for the 2027 season.

"Delhi will play well. I'm looking forward to it," Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata on Tuesday (October 6).

Addressing a query regarding the potential conflict of interest arising from his dual roles, Ganguly said: "I've got the order of ombudsman."

Delhi Capitals missed out on the IPL playoffs during both the 2025 and 2026 seasons under the previous coaching staff led by Badani. During those two years, the team's tactical shortcomings, auction strategies, and overall recruitment processes faced significant criticism from fans and experts alike.

While Ganguly has been with DC since 2019 in roles such as Advisor and Director of Cricket, this marks his first time stepping into the dugout as the head coach of an IPL franchise.

The appointment coincides with JSW Sports taking over operational control of the franchise for the 2027 and 2028 seasons from the GMR Group as part of their biennial rotation cycle.

In tandem with the coaching overhaul, the Capitals completed a high-profile trade to bring former captain Rishabh Pant back to Delhi from the Lucknow Super Giants, with wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav moving the other way.

Ganguly's primary objective will be to construct a completely revamped squad at the upcoming mega auction and lead the franchise toward its elusive first IPL championship title.

(With PTI Inputs)