The sudden exit of England icon Kevin Pietersen from the mentor role at Delhi Capitals (DC) has sparked massive debate just weeks before the start of the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026).
Many fans were surprised and shocked by Pietersen’s decision because the IPL 2028 is all set to begin on March 28. He had joined the Capitals as a mentor last year, and it was his first IPL coaching stint.
Delhi Capitals hit by Kevin Pietersen’s sudden exit
However, Pietersen decided to part ways with the franchise just before this season. The Englishman said that he would not be able to continue as a mentor because the role demands a lot of time and commitment. But he would still be part of the IPL through commentary.
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Kevin Pietersen posted, X: “I cannot be a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season as I can’t commit to the time that the job requires. Best wishes to all the players for this season. However, I will see you back in the commentary box. IPL is the world’s best league, and I can’t wait to see all of you soon.”
🚨 समाचार 🚨
मैं आईपीएल के इस सीजन में दिल्ली कैपिटल्स के लिए मेंटर नहीं बन सकता।
मैं उस समय के लिए प्रतिबद्ध नहीं हो सकता, जो काम की आवश्यकता है।
सभी खिलाड़ियों को इस सीजन के लिए शुभकामनाएं! ❤️
हालांकि मैं आपको कॉम बॉक्स में वापस देखूंगा! आईपीएल दुनिया की सबसे अच्छी लीग है…
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) March 14, 2026
Once a Dilliwala, always a Dilliwala: DC bids farewell to Pietersen
As soon as the news came out, social media started buzzing with speculation. However, the Delhi Capitals showed complete respect and warmth towards the former England star. The franchise thanked Pietersen for his support and passion for the team.
They also made it clear that there is no bitterness between the two sides. They posted on X on Sunday (March 15): “Once a Dilliwala, always a Dilliwala. Thank you for all the love and roars, KP.”
Once a Dilliwala, always a Dilliwala. Thank you for all the love & roars, KP 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/ItiuXWD19Y
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 15, 2026
Kevin Pietersen’s journey with Delhi
Meanwhile, the connection between Kevin Pietersen and the Delhi Capitals goes back many years. Before joining the team as a mentor, Pietersen had already built a special bond with Delhi fans during his playing days when the team was known as the Delhi Daredevils.
Pietersen had smashed a stunning 103* against the Deccan Chargers at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It was one of those nights when the Delhi fans completely embraced the English star. He represented Delhi between 2012 and 2014 and scored 599 runs in 19 matches for the side.
Delhi Capitals ready for fresh start after mixed 2025 season
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals will now shift their focus to the upcoming IPL 2026 after missing the playoffs last year. The team finished fifth on the points table and just fell short of making it into the top four under Axar Patel’s captaincy.
Delhi will begin its IPL 2026 campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. After that, they will return home to face the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans. Later, they will travel to Chennai to take on the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.
The 19th season of the IPL is all set to begin with a blockbuster opening match between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on March 28. The first phase of this season will see 20 matches being played across 10 different venues.
The matches will take place in Indian cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.
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