“I give a lot of freedom for the bowlers,” Vaas said in a video released by DC on Saturday. “Being a fast bowler – I played so many years – I always believe that bowlers should come with their plans. If they don’t know, then I’m there to help them, give my experience, whatever… the field settings.

“But I always believe bowlers should know their strength; bowlers should know their field settings. If they know all about [those things], you know, as a coach, we have to guide them to get to the next level.”

This is Vaas’ IPL coaching debut, though he has a lot of experience of coaching in international cricket.

He has had multiple stints with the Sri Lanka men’s side, in 2012-15, 2016-17 and briefly in 2021 – he resigned two days into his tenure over a pay dispute – and 2022. He had begun his coaching career as a consultant for the New Zealand men’s team, and in 2016 had a stint with Ireland during the 2016 World T20.

Vaas, who played for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in the first three seasons of the IPL, has spent years working with Sri Lanka Cricket as a fast-bowling consultant and academy mentor, and also coached NYS Lagos in the 2024 Zim Afro T10 League, and was head coach at Kandy Royals in LPL 2026.

Vaas, as well as Amit Mishra, who is set to join DC as the spin-bowling coach, are understood to have already spent time in Delhi working with the franchise’s academy players.

As reported by Cricinfo in June, DC, who have never won the IPL title and finished sixth in 2026, were expected to change the coaching staff that was in place for the last two seasons: Venugopal Rao (team director), Hemang Badani (head coach), Munaf Patel (bowling coach), and Ian Bell (assistant coach).

The switch is in line with the arrangement reached between DC’s co-owners – GMR Sports India Pvt Ltd and Jindal South West (JSW) Sports – after IPL 2024, which is that each owner will control franchise operations in alternating two-year cycles.