In a significant development, the Delhi Capitals franchise has announced a new operational structure that will see GMR and JSW alternate the running of their respective teams for two-year cycles. This arrangement, which takes effect from the 2025 season, will see GMR take control of the men’s team for the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons. Simultaneously, JSW will be responsible for managing the WPL team and the Pretoria Capitals during this period.
This partnership between GMR and JSW began in 2018 when they jointly acquired the IPL franchise and rebranded it as Delhi Capitals. Since then, the team has achieved remarkable success, culminating in a runner-up finish in the 2019 IPL and a maiden final appearance in 2020. The women’s team, acquired in 2023, has also proven its strength, making it to the final of both editions of the Women’s Premier League.
The announcement also sheds light on the future role of Sourav Ganguly within the franchise. While he will continue as the head of cricket for the women’s team and the Pretoria outfit for the next couple of years, he is unlikely to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the men’s team during this period. However, Ganguly is expected to play a key role in the upcoming mega-auction scheduled for next month.
The statement issued by the franchise clarifies that the business operations of the franchise will continue to be managed by the Delhi Capitals’ management team. However, significant decisions like auctions, captaincy, player releases, and retentions for both teams will be made by the Delhi Capitals board and will be decided mutually by the senior leadership of both GMR and JSW.
This new arrangement marks a significant shift in the operational structure of the Delhi Capitals franchise. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic partnership plays out in the coming years, impacting the performance of both the men’s and women’s teams and their respective participation in the IPL and WPL.