Key Points
- First head coach role: Sourav Ganguly named as Pretoria Capitals’ head coach for SA20 2026.
- Replaces Jonathan Trott, who quit after poor 2025 season.
- Team struggled last season: Only 2 wins from 10 matches, finished 5th in league.
- Owned by JSW Sports: Same group that co-owns Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
- 13 Indian players registered for SA20 2026, raising India’s involvement further.
New Delhi: Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has taken up his first-ever head coach role in franchise cricket. On Sunday, Ganguly was officially announced as the new head coach of Pretoria Capitals, the Centurion-based franchise in the South Africa T20 (SA20) League, ahead of the 2026 season.
This is a landmark moment in Ganguly’s post-playing career. Despite previously serving as team director for Delhi Capitals in the IPL (2018–2019), Ganguly has never before officially taken up the role of a head coach.
Why the Change? Trott Steps Down After Poor Run
The decision comes after Jonathan Trott resigned on Saturday, following a disappointing season where Pretoria Capitals:
- Managed only 2 wins out of 10 league matches in SA20 2025.
- Failed to qualify for the knockouts, finishing 5th out of 6 teams.
JSW Sports, which owns the franchise, decided to bring in Ganguly to provide fresh leadership and cricketing insight. The franchise confirmed the appointment with a celebratory post on Instagram:
“We are delighted to welcome Sourav Ganguly as our new head coach. His leadership, experience, and cricketing acumen will bring fresh energy to the Capitals.”
Ganguly’s Journey from Captain to Coach
- Ganguly, who famously transformed Indian cricket with his aggressive captaincy (2000–2005), now embarks on his first stint as a professional head coach.
- Between 2015–2019, he served as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
- In 2019, he played a mentor’s role with Delhi Capitals before stepping down to become BCCI president, which he held until 2022.
- Last year, Ganguly was appointed as JSW’s cricket director, overseeing strategy across their cricket ventures.
Now, being handed the coaching reins at Pretoria Capitals is seen as a continuation of his partnership with JSW Sports, which also co-owns Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Indian Players in SA20: Growing Footprint
The SA20 has gradually opened doors for Indian cricketers. While Dinesh Karthik became the first Indian to play in the league (for Paarl Royals), the 2026 edition is set to witness 13 more Indians registering for the tournament.
Some notable names include:
- Piyush Chawla, Siddharth Kaul, Ankit Rajput
- Sarul Kanwar, Anureet Singh Kathuria
- Nikhil Jagga, Mahesh Ahir, Mohammad Faid
- KS Naveen, Atul Yadav, Venkatesh Galipelli
This growing list underlines the SA20’s rising popularity among Indian domestic players seeking international exposure.
Expectations from Ganguly’s Tenure
With Ganguly’s track record as a bold thinker and strategist, cricket experts believe:
- He could bring a strong core reputation to Pretoria Capitals.
- His experience with player management will be vital in a competitive T20 league.
- His presence also strengthens India-South Africa cricket trade ties, especially with IPL–SA20 overlapping ownership groups.
This appointment is being seen as part of Ganguly’s growing footprint in global cricket administration and coaching, placing him in line with other ex-India captains who have excelled in overseas cricketing roles.
