"First of His Kind" – Delhi Capitals Name John Mooney as Fielding Coach in Historic IPL Move

Delhi Capitals have appointed former Ireland international John Mooney as their fielding coach for IPL 2026. This is the first time an Irish cricketer has joined the coaching staff of an Indian Premier League franchise.

Mooney replaces the previous fielding setup and will work under head coach Hemang Badani. The support group also includes Munaf Patel and Ian Bell. 

The move comes as Delhi Capitals look to strengthen their backroom staff after missing out on the playoffs last season.

Before this role, Mooney had coaching stints with Afghanistan and West Indies, gaining experience at international level. He was also briefly involved with Ireland’s women’s setup last year.

As a player, Mooney featured for Ireland across formats between 2006 and 2015, appearing in multiple ICC tournaments, including ODI and T20 World Cups. A left-hand batter and seam bowler, he was part of Ireland’s rise in global events during that period.

Delhi Capitals, who are yet to win an IPL title, finished fifth in the IPL 2025. Now, they will look to improve their fielding standards ahead of IPL 2026.