Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 25: Former India cricketer Anagha Deshpande has been appointed as an assistant coach for Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the 2026 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She will focus primarily on fielding and batting, linking up with head coach Jonathan Batty.
“Yes, I am joining the Delhi Capitals. It was finalised a few days ago. Hundred percent, it's a great opportunity for me. I will get to learn a lot of things which will aid me in future. I have seen them try for winning a trophy for three years. I hope I can help them win the trophy this time,” Anagha told reporters.
Anagha, who played 23 ODIs and eight T20Is for India between 2008 and 2014, scored 483 runs across formats and took 16 catches along with 21 stumpings as a wicketkeeper. She represented Maharashtra, Railways, Gujarat, and Puducherry in domestic cricket.
Since retiring, Anagha has achieved significant success as a coach in Uttarakhand, guiding the state’s U19 women’s team to one-day trophy victories in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and helping the U23 side reach knockout stages in T20 and one-day championships in 2023/24 and 2024/25. Under her mentorship, Uttarakhand’s senior women’s team reached its first finals in both T20 and one-day formats in 2023/24. Several players, including Nandini Kashyap, Raghvi Bist, and Prema Rawat—featured in this year’s WPL and India A squads—credit their growth to her coaching.
Anagha has also served in various coaching roles at senior and U19 challenger trophies and worked with BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) camps at zonal and national levels.
Delhi Capitals will kick off their WPL 2026 campaign on January 10 against defending champions Mumbai Indians at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Jemimah Rodrigues has been named DC’s new captain, a decision Anagha fully endorsed. “I have seen her leadership. She is well deserving to be the captain. She plays in the same way as a player and now with the leadership tag, she is hundred percent deserving,” she said.
Additionally, IANS reports that former India captain Anju Jain is likely to join DC as batting coach. Anju played eight Tests and 65 ODIs for India between 1993 and 2005, scoring 2,170 runs and contributing significantly behind the stumps. She has previously coached UP Warriorz, Tornadoes at the FairBreak Global Invitational, the Indian women’s team, Bangladesh women, and various domestic teams including Odisha, Vidarbha, Assam, Tripura, and Baroda.