Despite ups and downs, Delhi made it to three playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021 and topped the table in 2009 and 2012
Formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, the franchise rebranded as Delhi Capitals in December 2019, ushering in a new era. Despite ups and downs, they made three playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021 and topped the table in 2009 and 2012. Their global presence was marked by semifinal berths in the Champions League Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012, establishing them as a cricket powerhouse. The team is also one of the fewest teams with numerous captains in the past – 13 captains, to be precise. In the following paragraphs, let us look at all the DC captains.
Virender Sehwag, renowned for his explosive batting, captained Delhi Daredevils in the IPL 2008 season, leading them to the playoffs but falling short in the semifinals. After Gautam Gambhir's captaincy, Sehwag resumed leadership in 2010, facing challenges despite topping the points table in 2012. In his 52 matches as captain, winning 28, Sehwag's legacy left a lasting impact on the franchise.
Gautam Gambhir led Delhi Daredevils to the top of the IPL 2009 points table but fell short in the semifinals. After success with Kolkata Knight Riders, he returned to Delhi Capitals in 2018 but handed over the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer mid-season due to disappointing results, emphasizing his commitment. He won 12 out of 25 matches as captain.
James Hopes, the Australian all-rounder, led Delhi Capitals in three matches during IPL 2011 without regular captain Virender Sehwag. Under Hopes' captaincy, Delhi Capitals faced mixed fortunes, with two losses and one match ending in a washout.
Ross Taylor, the powerful Kiwi batsman, briefly captained Delhi Capitals in two matches during the IPL 2012 season. While one match ended in a loss, highlighting the challenges faced by the team, another game was unfortunately abandoned due to inclement weather conditions.
Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan cricket icon, led Delhi Capitals during IPL 2012 in Sehwag's absence, showing promise in two matches. In IPL 2013, he officially took over but faced challenges as the team ended at the bottom with four wins out of sixteen games. Despite winning six out of eighteen matches, the team's performance fell short and could have improved.
In the tumultuous IPL 2013 season, David Warner briefly led Delhi Capitals in two vital matches, despite his prolific batting form, but couldn't secure victories. In 2023, he reassumed the captaincy for Delhi Capitals due to Rishabh Pant's injury.
In IPL 2014, Delhi Capitals sought a change in leadership, appointing Kevin Pietersen as captain. However, the franchise endured a disappointing run, securing only one victory in 11 matches under his leadership.
During his stint with the Delhi-based franchise, veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik captained six matches, but the team only won two games out of six under his leadership.
During a challenging phase for Delhi Capitals, the franchise appointed South African all-rounder JP Duminy as captain for the IPL 2015 season. Despite his commendable batting performances, Duminy struggled to lead the team to success, resulting in Delhi Capitals finishing in 7th position in the league stage under his captaincy.
Delhi Capitals enlisted Zaheer Khan's experience and leadership to mentor their young squad in the IPL 2016. The seasoned pace bowler diligently assumed the role, guiding the team through its ups and downs. During his tenure, Zaheer Khan captained Delhi Capitals in 23 matches, securing victories in 10 while facing defeat in 13 games. Despite their efforts, the franchise finished 6th in the league standings for two consecutive seasons under his stewardship.
During the IPL 2017 season, Karun Nair served as Zaheer Khan's deputy and had the opportunity to lead Delhi Capitals in three matches. Under his captaincy, the team secured victories in two games while suffering one defeat.
Shreyas Iyer's captaincy for Delhi Capitals marked a turning point, taking over mid-season in IPL 2018. Under his leadership, the team saw a remarkable resurgence, reaching the playoffs in IPL 2019 and making their maiden final appearance in IPL 2020. In 41 matches, Iyer led the team to victory in 21 encounters while facing defeat in 18 games, highlighting his ability to inspire and guide the team to success.
Rishabh Pant's journey as Delhi Capitals' skipper began in IPL 2021, initially stepping in due to Shreyas Iyer's injury. Despite Iyer's return, Pant retained the captaincy, leading the team to the top of the points in a memorable league stage performance. However, they fell short of reaching the final. In IPL 2022, Delhi Capitals had a mixed season, narrowly missing the playoffs with a fifth-place finish. Pant faced a challenge when he encountered an accident in December 2022, leading to David Warner temporarily assuming the captaincy. Pant made a remarkable comeback in IPL 2024, showcasing resilience and determination to lead effectively.
