John Mooney Becomes First Irish Coach in IPL with Delhi Capitals Role

Former Ireland allrounder John Mooney has been appointed as the fielding coach of Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League 2026 season, making history as the first Irish representative to join the coaching staff of an IPL franchise.

Mooney replaces last season’s fielding coaches and joins a well-rounded support staff led by head coach Hemang Badani, alongside bowling coach Munaf Patel, assistant coach Ian Bell, and director of cricket Venugopal Rao.

The 43-year-old brings considerable coaching experience to the franchise. He previously worked as fielding coach for Afghanistan national cricket team between 2018 and 2019, including during their historic Test debut in India. He has also had a stint with the West Indies national cricket team and briefly coached the Ireland women’s side.

During his playing career, Mooney represented the Ireland national cricket team in 64 ODIs and 27 T20Is between 2006 and 2015. A left-handed batter and right-arm fast bowler, he featured in three ODI World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015) and two T20 World Cups (2009, 2010), contributing as a reliable allrounder.

Since retiring, Mooney has focused on coaching development, completing advanced certifications through the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Delhi Capitals, still in pursuit of their first IPL title, finished fifth in the 2025 season and narrowly missed out on the playoffs. With Mooney’s appointment, the franchise will be aiming to sharpen their fielding standards as they look to gain a competitive edge in IPL 2026.

His inclusion also marks a significant milestone for Irish cricket, reflecting the growing global influence of Ireland’s players and coaches in top-tier franchise leagues. 🏏