As IPL 2025 approaches its March 22 start, Delhi Capitals are gearing up for their first match on March 24. However, ahead of the tournament, the team’s bowling coach, Munaf Patel, has secured a new coaching position. He has been appointed as the bowling coach for Seattle Orcas, a franchise in America’s Major League Cricket (MLC). This raises the question—will Munaf leave IPL 2025 midway to take up his new role in the USA?
Will Munaf Patel Quit IPL for MLC?
While IPL 2025 is scheduled to run from March 22 to May 25, MLC 2025 is expected to begin in June. This timeline ensures that Munaf can fulfill both commitments without any conflict. He will complete his stint with Delhi Capitals before heading to the USA to join Seattle Orcas. Additionally, both teams share a connection—GMR Group holds a stake in both Delhi Capitals and Seattle Orcas, making his transition between the two teams seamless.
Seattle Orcas officially announced Munaf’s appointment on March 16, 2025. He will be part of a coaching staff led by Matthew Mott as head coach, with Venugopal Rao serving as Director of Cricket. The trio has previously collaborated in both IPL and MLC. Meanwhile, former England cricketer Ian Bell has joined the Orcas as their batting coach.
Munaf Patel’s Extensive Experience
Munaf has been an integral part of Delhi Capitals’ coaching setup, having previously worked as the bowling coach for Dubai Capitals in ILT20, another DC franchise. His long-standing association with the DC ecosystem highlights his deep involvement in franchise cricket coaching.
As a former cricketer, Munaf brings significant experience, having played in the IPL, domestic cricket, and international matches for India. In his IPL career, he played 63 matches, taking 74 wickets at an economy rate of 7.51. For the Indian team, he claimed 86 wickets in 70 ODIs and played a crucial role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup victory. Though his Test career was brief, with 25 wickets in 13 matches, his expertise as a coach continues to be valuable across various leagues.
