New Delhi, 25 September (H.S.): Former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya has been reappointed head coach of the Delhi senior men’s cricket team for the 2026-27 domestic season. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Friday announced the coaching staff and selection committees for its men’s and women’s teams.

Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach and a recipient of the Dronacharya Award, has been appointed state mentor for the men’s team. Sunita Sharma has been given the responsibility of state mentor for the women’s teams.

According to the DDCA, the appointments of coaches and selection committees for the men’s and women’s teams were made following recommendations from the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).

Dahiya previously served as an assistant coach with Gujarat Titans, the champions of IPL 2022. He was also head coach of the Delhi team that won the 2007-08 Ranji Trophy title. He continued in the same role during the 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Dahiya, who represented India in two Tests and 19 ODIs, will replace former India off-spinner and selector Sarandeep Singh as Delhi’s head coach. Sarandeep served as the Delhi head coach for the past two seasons and is now a member of the CAC. Contemporary records also identify Dahiya as a former Delhi head coach and India international.

Dahiya will be assisted by Kshitij Sharma and Kuldeep Rawat, while Sanjeev Sharma and former India fast bowler Parvinder Awana will serve as bowling coaches. Delhi will begin their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Bengal in Kalyani on October 11.

Former Delhi cricketer K.P. Bhaskar has been appointed chairman of the senior men’s selection committee. The three-member panel will also include Manu Nayar and Praveen Gupta. Former India player Reema Malhotra has been appointed chairperson of the senior women’s selection committee, with Swarn Chhabra and Rani Ojha as members.

For the age-group teams, former Delhi batter Robin Bist has been appointed head coach of the men’s Under-23 team. Mohan Chaturvedi and Rajinder Singh Chawla will serve as assistant coaches. Rajiv Nayyar will coach the men’s Under-19 team, while Raju Sharma and Abhishek Mankotia have been appointed head coaches of the men’s Under-16 and Under-14 teams, respectively.

In the women’s programme, former India international Latika Kumari has been appointed head coach of the women’s Under-23 team. Deepti Dhyani will continue as head coach of the senior women’s team. Sonnets Club coach Devendra Sharma will also continue as the women’s Under-19 selector.

The DDCA has also constituted a High Performance Group. Former India batter Gursharan Singh has been appointed lead batting coach for the men’s programme, while Bantu Singh will head the women’s batting programme. Tilak Raj Sharma and V. Aravind will oversee the bowling department in the High Performance programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar