Vijay Dahiya appointed as Delhi head coach, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach named state mentor

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya has been appointed the head coach of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) senior men’s team for the 2026-27 domestic season, with Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma named the state mentor.Dahiya, who represented India in two Tests and 19 ODIs, returns to the Delhi setup as part of a major overhaul of the team’s coaching and support staff. The DDCA has also appointed former Delhi cricketer KP Bhaskar as the chairperson of the senior men’s selection committee.Dahiya returns to Delhi setupDahiya has previously served multiple stints as Delhi’s head coach and famously guided the side to the Ranji Trophy title in the 2007-08 season, ending a 16-year wait for the prestigious domestic crown.The former wicketkeeper-batter also brings considerable experience from franchise cricket. He was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders coaching staff during their IPL title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014.Dahiya has subsequently worked as an assistant coach with Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, while also serving as the head coach of Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket.With Dahiya taking charge of the senior men’s team and Rajkumar Sharma coming in as state mentor, the DDCA has opted for a coaching structure that combines Dahiya’s experience in domestic and franchise cricket with Sharma’s long association with Delhi cricket. Sharma is best known for mentoring Kohli during the early stages of the former India captain’s career and continues to be closely associated with the Delhi cricket system.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.