Who is Venugopal Rao? Exploring the Career of Delhi Capitals’ New Director of Cricket for IPL 2025

The Delhi Capitals (DC) have appointed Venugopal Rao as their new Director of Cricket ahead of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rao, who had previously played for DC between 2011 and 2013, is returning to the franchise in a leadership role.

At 42, Venugopal Rao brings a wealth of experience, having recently served as the Director of Cricket and mentor for the Dubai Capitals during the franchise’s inaugural season. His connection with the Capitals franchise, both in the IPL and internationally, has been longstanding.

Upon his appointment, Venugopal Rao expressed his gratitude in a press release, stating:

“My relationship with this franchise goes back many years, and I am grateful to the owners for entrusting me with this responsibility. I’m excited about the new challenges and the upcoming IPL cycle.”

Leadership Changes in Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals’ co-owner and chairman, Kiran Kumar Gandhi, also commented on the appointments of Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket. He said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Hemang and Venu back to Delhi Capitals. Both of them have been integral to our team in different capacities over the years, and now we’re excited to have them take on these new roles. Their proven expertise as coaches will undoubtedly help us drive the success we’re aiming for.”

Venugopal Rao’s Impressive Career Stats

Although Rao had a brief international career, representing India in 16 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he made valuable contributions, scoring 218 runs in 11 innings. His most notable ODI performance came against Pakistan in 2006, where he played a crucial knock of 61* in Abu Dhabi.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Venugopal Rao is more recognized for his outstanding domestic cricket career. Over 121 first-class matches, he scored 7,081 runs at an impressive average of 40.93, which includes 17 centuries and 30 half-centuries. Additionally, he made a significant impact in List-A cricket, amassing 4,110 runs in 137 games, including 11 centuries and 25 fifties.

As a handy off-spinner, Rao also contributed with the ball, taking 66 wickets in first-class cricket and 53 wickets in List-A matches.

Venugopal Rao in the IPL

Rao’s IPL journey spanned multiple franchises, including Delhi Capitals, Deccan Chargers, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored 985 runs in 64 matches, which included three half-centuries. One of the highlights of his IPL career was being part of the Deccan Chargers team that won the 2009 IPL title under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist.

With his extensive experience as a player and mentor, Venugopal Rao’s return to Delhi Capitals as Director of Cricket marks a significant step for the franchise as they prepare for the 2025 IPL season.