Amit Mishra’s job is to turn a leaking spin group into a controlled one, starting with a clearer role for captain Axar Patel and a plan for life without Kuldeep Yadav. On 21 October, Delhi appointed him as spin bowling coach, the first coaching post since he retired last year. Kuldeep left for Lucknow Super Giants in a June trade, so the franchise enters the next season with fewer proven options. Mishra knows the club, the ground and the pressure that comes with both.
Mishra’s Playing Record Gives Credibility
Mishra played 162 matches in the league and took 174 wickets at an economy of 7.38, and his best haul was 5/17. He claimed hat-tricks for three different sides: Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013, Deccan Chargers in 2011 and Delhi in 2008. That spread shows a bowler who found wickets in any setting.
He is also the leading wicket-taker in Delhi’s history, over spells from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2015 to 2021, ten seasons in all. A career economy of 7.38 sets a standard that neither Kuldeep nor Axar matched last season. Having retired last year, he now describes the role as the launch of a coaching career.
Delhi Capitals spin attack in IPL 2027
Delhi finished sixth last season on seven wins and 14 points, so the room for improvement is obvious. Vipraj Nigam, Zeeshan Ansari and Axar are the spinners left on the roster, with Ansari having come over from Sunrisers as part of the Natarajan swap. Pant’s return changes the squad’s balance too, and the mini-auction in Goa on 16 December offers the next chance to add depth.
The 2026 returns show the gap he has to close. Kuldeep’s economy of 10.30 and Vipraj Nigam’s 12.56 were both far above Axar’s 8.18, and none came near Mishra’s own career mark. Those gaps matter because Delhi finished sixth and cannot afford another season of expensive overs. The table puts the three bowlers side by side.
Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
Kuldeep Yadav | 12 | 10 | 10.30 |
Axar Patel | 14 | 11 | 8.18 |
Vipraj Nigam | 4 | 2 | 12.56 |
Kuldeep Yadav’s Costly Season
Kuldeep leaked 381 runs from 37 overs and took ten wickets at 10.30 an over, against a career figure of 8.27. His best return was 3/29. The franchise moved him to Lucknow for ₹13.5 crore while Rishabh Pant returned at ₹15 crore, a swap that changed both the squad and the budget. The figures explain why the trade was possible, but they also show how much work remains.
The problem runs deeper than one bowler. Since 2024, spinners at Arun Jaitley Stadium have been hit for 9.55 runs an over, and since 2025 Delhi have handed spinners 48.3 per cent of the overs they bowl, more than any other franchise had by April. Leaning on a method that the home ground punishes is the real issue Mishra has to address.
Axar’s Captaincy Squeezes His Overs
Axar finished the season with 11 wickets from 14 games and an economy of 8.18, a clear step above the 7.41 he has averaged across his career. His role as captain complicates when he bowls. Against Punjab at Dharamshala, the fast bowlers delivered all 39 overs and Axar never took the ball.
League-wide, spin accounted for roughly 29 per cent of the overs bowled last season, compared with 38.3 per cent a year earlier. If that trend holds, Mishra must help Axar judge the moments where his own overs count for most. A captain who rarely bowls is a spinner the opposition never has to plan for.
Ganguly and Yuvraj Shape the Group
Sourav Ganguly returns after a spell running the cricket department in 2023 and 2024, and takes the head coach job from Hemang Badani. Yuvraj Singh arrives as assistant coach with responsibility for batting, also in his first official coaching job. Chaminda Vaas handles the fast bowlers, while Munaf Patel and Ian Bell have left. The staff looks very different from the one that finished sixth.
Ganguly and Yuvraj both shared an Indian dressing room with Mishra in the past, and that familiarity should help a newcomer settle. Even so, nothing public explains how spin plans will be divided between the coaches. How the Delhi Capitals spin attack in IPL 2027 performs will depend on how quickly those responsibilities are settled.
Can a first-time coach really repair a unit that conceded this many runs? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who has Delhi named as spin bowling coach for next season?
Amit Mishra has been named spin bowling coach. The franchise confirmed the appointment on 21 October 2026, and it is his first coaching job after retiring as a player.
How many IPL wickets does Amit Mishra have?
Mishra took 174 wickets in 162 matches. He also recorded a best haul of 5/17, hat-tricks for three different franchises, and a career economy rate of 7.38 overall.
Who is the new head coach at Delhi for next season?
Sourav Ganguly takes over as the new head coach. He replaces Hemang Badani and returns after holding the director of cricket post across 2023 and 2024.
Which spinners remain on Delhi’s roster after Kuldeep’s trade?
Zeeshan Ansari, Vipraj Nigam, and Axar Patel remain. Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow Super Giants in a June trade, and Ansari came from Sunrisers through the Natarajan deal.
Has Amit Mishra worked as a coach before?
No, this is Mishra’s first coaching job. Retirement came last year, and he has framed the post as the start of a new career on the sidelines of the sport.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.