As the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League gears up, all ten franchises are in the throes of assembling the right combinations for their teams. The Delhi Capitals, a team yet to taste IPL glory, find themselves amidst preparations, releasing a few players ahead of the auction, hopeful that the decisions made will finally break their trophy drought.
One pivotal factor in their aspirations is the return of Rishabh Pant, the DC skipper, who has been sidelined since a car accident in December 2022. In his absence, David Warner led the team last season. Now, with uncertainty looming over Pant’s availability for the upcoming season, the question arises: Who will step up as the captain for DC?
Here are three contenders poised to lead the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 if Rishabh Pant remains unavailable:
1. David Warner:
Veteran Australian opener David Warner took on the captaincy role in IPL 2023, steering DC through a challenging season that saw them eliminated early after winning only five games. Despite the tough start, Warner, a captain with an IPL win under his belt (2016 with SRH), stands as a viable option to lead DC again if Rishabh Pant remains sidelined.
2. Axar Patel:
All-rounder Axar Patel, a key player for DC since joining in the 2018 season, emerges as another captaincy contender. Patel’s consistent contributions with both bat and ball make him an integral part of the side. With 51 wickets in 68 games and 732 runs to his name, Axar’s experience, coupled with his longstanding association with the Indian team, positions him as a seasoned option for the leadership role.
3. Prithvi Shaw:
Dashing opener Prithvi Shaw, part of the Delhi Capitals since 2018, stands as the third contender for the captaincy role. Following Warner and Pant, he is the highest run-scorer for the franchise among active players. Shaw’s leadership experience, including leading India’s U19 team to World Cup glory in 2018, adds weight to his candidacy. With 1694 runs in 71 games at a striking rate of 145.78, Shaw’s youthfulness and potential for future leadership make him a compelling option.
