India Capitals, a prominent franchise in the Legends League Cricket (LLC), has announced a significant change ahead of their new campaign. The team has named former English cricketer Ian Bell as their captain for the upcoming season. Bell, who is widely considered one of England’s greatest batters, brings an impressive resume to the role. He represented England from 2004 to 2015, amassing 7,727 Test runs, including 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries. His experience and leadership were crucial in three Ashes-winning series for England.

The India Capitals will kick off their season against Toyam Hyderabad this Saturday at Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur. This match is highly anticipated as the Capitals aim to replicate their success from the inaugural LLC 2022 season, where they emerged as champions under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who now serves as the head coach of the Indian men’s national cricket team, set a high standard that the team aims to maintain.

The squad for this season features several notable players, including Dwayne Smith, Ravi Bopara, Colin de Grandhomme, Naman Ojha, and Dhawal Kulkarni. These players are expected to be key contributors to the team’s performance. Supporting them from the dugout will be an experienced coaching staff led by Hemang Badani, with Munaf Patel and Venugopal Rao providing additional expertise.

Hemang Badani expressed his excitement about Ian Bell’s appointment as captain, emphasizing Bell’s wealth of experience and leadership qualities. “Ian Bell brings a wealth of experience and leadership qualities to the India Capitals. His track record and achievements speak for themselves, and we believe his ability to inspire and guide the team will be invaluable in our quest for another successful season,” Badani said. He added that the team is confident in building on their legacy and aims to deliver a strong performance in Season 3 of the LLC.

Bell himself shared his enthusiasm for leading the team, highlighting the rich history of the India Capitals and his eagerness to contribute to another chapter of success. “It’s an honour to lead such a talented team of legends in a tournament like the Legends League Cricket. The India Capitals have a rich history, and I look forward to working with the squad to create another chapter of success. The passion of cricket fans across India is unmatched, and I’m excited to bring our best game to them this season,” Bell said.

The India Capitals squad for LLC 2024 includes: Ian Bell (captain), Kirk Edwards, Dwayne Smith, Ravi Bopara, Ben Dunk, Naman Ojha, Colin de Grandhomme, Iqbal Abdulla, Dhruv Raval, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ashley Nurse, Parwinder Awana, Pankaj Singh, Pawan Suyal, Chris Mpofu, Barinder Saran, Y Gnaneswara Rao, Bharat Chipli, and Faiz Fazal. This diverse lineup combines seasoned talent with emerging players, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.

As the team prepares for their first match in Jodhpur, fans eagerly anticipate seeing how this new leadership under Ian Bell will steer the India Capitals towards another victorious season in the Legends League Cricket.