Delhi Capitals rope in Biju George as fielding coach

Delhi Capitals have signed up Biju George as their fielding coach for the season. He will replace Mohammad Kaif, the former India cricketer, who held that position till last season. Biju will join a line-up of quality coaches starting with head coach Ricky Ponting, his compatriots Shane Watson, James Hopes and former India cricketers, Ajit Agarkar and Pravin Amre, among others in the coaching staff.

"We have taken him for the season and he comes with good years of experience - both in IPL and international cricket," a promoter of the franchise told Cricbuzz on Wednesday (March 9) confirming the recruitment.

The team, led by Rishabh Pant, will assemble in Mumbai on Thursday (March 10) although the captain himself will join the camp later. Delhi Capitals take on Mumbai Indians in their first game on March 27.

Biju is a former fielding coach of the India women's team and has worked with the team's recent coaches - Tushar Arothe, WV Raman and Ramesh Powar. The coach from Trivandrum was associated with Kolkata Knight Riders for two years (2015 and 2016) and Sunrisers Hyderabad for a year in 2020. In between, he had also coached the Kuwait national team.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals team is sweating over the availability of their South African players - speedsters Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. While Nigidi is part of the team to take on Bangladesh in three ODIs - to be held from March 18 to 23 - Nortje is left out because of a niggle.

Nortje, who was retained by the franchise, is expected to join the squad but there is no clarity on Ngidi, who could also be part of the two-Test series against Bangladesh that will end only April 12. The Delhi Capitals management is hoping the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take up the issue with Cricket South Africa.