New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): Delhi Capitals (DC) announced the hugely exciting appointment of England legend Kevin Pietersen as their team mentor ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 44-year-old will link up and work alongside a formidable Delhi Capitals support staff which includes Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, head coach Hemang Badani, assistant coach Matthew Mott and bowling coach Munaf Patel, according to a release from Delhi Capitals.

Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman & Co-owner, Delhi Capitals, said, 'We are delighted to welcome KP as our team mentor. He has been a Delhi boy, having played for us in the IPL earlier, and it's great to have him back in a different role. We are confident that his vast experience, his tactical understanding of the game, and his passion for the franchise will be invaluable to our team and our players,' as quoted from a release by DC. Parth Jindal, Co-owner of Delhi Capitals, said, 'KP was arguably one of the best modern-day batters, and having him in our team is a valuable addition. We look forward to seeing him apply his knowledge and help our players drive towards our objectives. My best wishes to him in this new role.' Marking his return to the franchise after more than a decade, Pietersen commented in great spirits, 'I've got incredible memories of representing the Delhi franchise in the IPL, and I've been able to maintain that passion for the team even as a broadcaster over the years. I shared the field with Venu (Venugopal Rao) during the 2012 season, and it's great to be reconnecting with him as we begin a new chapter at this amazing franchise,' as quoted from a release by DC. 'I've got a great relationship with the owners and the Delhi Capitals fans, so when this idea came about, it was a very quick YES from me. It's an exciting opportunity to step into this new role as a mentor for the Capitals, and I'm really looking forward to joining the squad, working closely with the boys, and doing everything I can to help us win that ultimate prize,' he added. A veteran of 200 T20s with 5,695 runs, Pietersen appeared in 36 IPL matches scoring 1001 runs across his stints with the Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Pune franchise. The South African-born player, who captained England between 2008-2009, won the Player of the Series award for his remarkable performance in the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup, which helped England secure their maiden ICC trophy. In his illustrious international career, Pietersen played 104 Tests, scoring 8,181 runs, and 136 ODIs, amassing 4,440 runs. Earlier this week, Delhi Capitals also announced the appointment of renowned and highly successful coach Matthew Mott as their assistant coach. Mott coached the England men's team to victory in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup and previously spent seven record-breaking years with Australia's women's team. His tenure included two T20 World Cup titles, one ODI World Cup, four Ashes series wins, and a remarkable record 26-match winning streak in ODIs. (ANI)