Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has parted ways with Delhi Capitals as their mentor ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, citing a lack of time to fulfil the demands of the role.
The 45-year-old had taken up the mentorship position ahead of the 2025 season, reuniting with the franchise he represented as a player during his career. With the 19th edition of the IPL scheduled to get underway on March 28, Pietersen confirmed his exit via a post on X.
“I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season. I cannot commit the time that the role requires,” he wrote. Despite stepping away from the dugout, Pietersen assured fans they would still see him during the tournament behind the microphone. “Wishing all the players the very best for this season! However, you will see me back in the commentary box! IPL is the best league in the world, and I can’t wait to see all of you very soon!” he added.
Delhi Capitals had a mixed 2025 IPL campaign, finishing fifth in the league stage and narrowly missing out on a playoff berth. The side accumulated 15 points from 14 matches seven wins, six losses and one washout. KL Rahul was the standout batter with 539 runs, while left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling charts with 15 wickets. Despite flashes of good form, the team struggled to maintain consistency in high-stakes encounters.
Heading into IPL 2026, the Capitals opted to retain their core group, holding on to Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. They also bolstered their squad at the auction, bringing in David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to shore up both their batting depth and pace attack.
Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.