South Africa’s Paddy Upton has been signed up by the team as its head coach while former Mumbai Ranji Trophy opener Zubin Bharucha was named the technical director of the team.
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Rahul Dravid has been announced as a mentor for the Delhi Daredevils for IPL 9.
From being a low-key franchise, the Royals achieved success after Dravid joined hands with Upton. Dravid had also captained the Royals to the last four stage twice in the IPL. “Paddy has had a successful career as head coach for T20 franchises around the world”. The squad will undergo a camp here in two phases with the first phase beginning today at the Teri Ground. The franchise let go of coach Gary Kirsten at the end of the last season. “Delhi were unlucky to have lost a few close games including one against Rajasthan Royals”.
“It is an exciting opportunity”. Asked about the eyebrow-raising Rs 8.5 cr purchase of Pawan Negi by the Delhi Daredevils, Dravid said: “The auctions can be very dynamic”.
“I am now looking forward to building the same memories with Delhi Daredevils”. The franchise, along with the Chennai Super Kings, was suspended for two years by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha panel for its involvement in the 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal.
“I really enjoyed my time with Rajasthan Royals”. It is pretty obvious why the opportunity came.
“From my perspective, I don’t think he has to justify the price he has got”, Dravid added.
“I don t like to rate people as icons”.
Dravid reportedly turned down an offer to coach the Daredevils after a long season with the India “A” and the India U-19 teams.
The Delhi Daredevils squad looks strong after the latest auctions with heavyweights like Quinton De Kock, JP Duminy, Mohammed Shami, Zaheer Khan and Imran Tahir. “Hopefully, we can have a good season”, he said. “You might have all your plans in place but they may not work”, he said. It doesn’t necessarily mean that things are drastically wrong when results are not going your way.
“I’m excited to be working with Delhi Daredevils”.
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Dravid will have Royals colleague Upton for company besides youngsters like Sanju Samson and Karun Nair. “Zubin (Bharucha) was included in the auction process”.
