Ian Bell, the former England cricketer, has joined Delhi Capitals as their new assistant coach for IPL 2026. This marks his first involvement in the Indian Premier League. Bell, a renowned batter, brings extensive experience to the role, having represented England in 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and eight T20Is. He'll work alongside head coach Hemang Badani, mentor Kevin Pietersen, and other support staff, focusing on guiding the team's batters. A veteran of 118 Tests, 161 ODIs and eight T20Is for England, Bell brings extensive international experience to the role. He was most prolific in Tests, scoring 7727 runs with 22 tons and 46 fifties. Since retiring, he has been involved in coaching roles with England's junior teams, including age-group sides, before making the move to the IPL setup. He also worked with the Sri Lankan Test team as batting coach during the tour of England in 2024, and was briefly involved with the New Zealand men's team during their tour of England that preceded the 2023 ODI World Cup. Bell has also served as assistant coach of Birmingham Phoenix in the Men's Hundred. Bell's appointment is part of Delhi Capitals' efforts to strengthen their coaching staff and improve their performance in the IPL. The team finished fifth in the 2025 season, narrowly missing the playoffs.